Bile acid derivatives as FXR/TGR5 agonists and methods of use thereof

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides compounds represented by Formula I, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, stereoisomers, solvates, hydrates or combination thereof, 
                         
The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and methods of using this compounds for treating FXR-mediated or TGR5-mediated diseases or conditions.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Application No. 62/140,927, filed Mar. 31, 2015 and U.S. Application No. 62/287,267, filed Jan. 26, 2016. The entire teachings of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to compounds useful as FXR/TGR5 modulators and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Specifically, the present invention relates to bile acid derivatives and methods for their preparation and use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR) is an orphan nuclear receptor initially identified from a rat liver cDNA library (B M. Forman, et al., Cell, 1995, 81(5), 687-693) that is most closely related to the insect ecdysone receptor. FXR is a member of the nuclear receptor family of ligand-activated transcription factors that includes receptors for the steroid, retinoid, and thyroid hormones (D J. Mangelsdorf, et al., Cell, 1995, 83(6), 841-850). The relevant physiological ligands of FXR are bile acids (D. Parks et al., Science, 1999, 284(5418), 1362-1365). The most potent one is chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), which regulates the expression of several genes that participate in bile acid homeostasis. Farnesol and derivatives, together called farnesoids, are originally described to activate the rat orthologue at high concentration but they do not activate the human or mouse receptor. FXR is expressed in the liver, throughout the entire gastrointestinal tract including the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, small intestine, colon, ovary, adrenal gland and kidney. Beyond controlling intracellular gene expression, FXR seems to be also involved in paracrine and endocrine signaling by upregulating the expression of the cytokine Fibroblast Growth Factor (J. Holt et al., Genes Dev., 2003, 17(13), 1581-1591; T. Inagaki et al., Cell Metab., 2005, 2(4), 217-225).

Small molecule compounds which act as FXR modulators have been disclosed in the following publications: WO 2000/037077, WO 2003/015771, WO 2004/048349, WO 2007/076260, WO 2007/092751, WO 2007/140174, WO 2007/140183, WO 2008/051942, WO 2008/157270, WO 2009/005998, WO 2009/012125, WO 2008/025539, and WO 2008/025540. Further small molecule FXR modulators have been recently reviewed (R. C. Buijsman et al. Curr. Med. Chem. 2005, 12, 1017-1075).

TGR5 receptor is a G-protein-coupled receptor that has been identified as a cell-surface receptor that is responsive to bile acids (BAs). The primary structure of TGR5 and its responsiveness to bile acids has been found to be highly conserved in TGR5 among human, bovine, rabbit, rat, and mouse, and thus suggests that TGR5 has important physiological functions. TGR5 has been found to be widely distributed in not only lymphoid tissues but also in other tissues. High levels of TGR5 mRNA have been detected in placenta, spleen, and monocytes/macrophages. Bile acids have been shown to induce internalization of the TGR5 fusion protein from the cell membrane to the cytoplasm (Kawamata et al., J. Bio. Chem., 2003, 278, 9435). TGR5 has been found to be identical to hGPCR19 reported by Takeda et al., FEBS Lett. 2002, 520, 97-101.

TGR5 is associated with the intracellular accumulation of cAMP, which is widely expressed in diverse cell types. While the activation of this membrane receptor in macrophages decreases pro-inflammatory cytokine production, (Kawamata, Y., et al., J. Biol. Chem. 2003, 278, 9435-9440) the stimulation of TGR5 by BAs in adipocytes and myocytes enhances energy expenditure (Watanabe, M., et al. Nature. 2006, 439, 484-489). This latter effect involves the cAMP-dependent induction of type 2 iodothyronine deiodinase (D2), which by, locally converting T4 into T3, gives rise to increased thyroid hormone activity. Consistent with the role of TGR5 in the control of energy metabolism, female TGR5 knock-out mice show a significant fat accumulation with body weight gain when challenged with a high fat diet, indicating that the lack of TGR5 decreases energy expenditure and elicits obesity (Maruyama, T., et al., J. Endocrinol. 2006, 191, 197-205). In addition and in line with the involvement of TGR5 in energy homeostasis, bile acid activation of the membrane receptor has also been reported to promote the production of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) in murine enteroendocrine cell lines (Katsuma, S., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 2005, 329, 386-390). On the basis of all the above observations, TGR5 is an attractive target for the treatment of disease e.g., obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

In addition to the use of TGR5 agonists for the treatment and prevention of metabolic diseases, compounds that modulate TGR5 modulators are also useful for the treatment of other diseases e.g., central nervous diseases as well as inflammatory diseases (WO 01/77325 and WO 02/84286). Modulators of TGR5 also provide methods of regulating bile acid and cholesterol homeostasis, fatty acid absorption, and protein and carbohydrate digestion.

There is a need for the development of FXR and/or TGR5 modulators for the treatment and prevention of disease. The present invention has identified compounds, which contain an amino, urea, sulfonyurea or sulfonamide moieties, which modulate FXR and/or TGR as well as methods of using these compounds to treat disease.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention provides compounds represented by Formula I, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, stereoisomers, solvates, hydrates or combination thereof:

wherein: R_(a) is selected from the group consisting of:

1) Hydrogen;

2) Substituted or unsubstituted —C₁-C₆ alkoxy;

3) Substituted or unsubstituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl;

4) Substituted or unsubstituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl;

5) Substituted or unsubstituted —C₂-C₈ alkynyl;

6) Substituted or unsubstituted arylalkyl;

7) Substituted or unsubstituted aryl.

R_(b) is selected from the group consisting of:

1) Hydrogen;

2) Substituted or unsubstituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl;

3) Substituted or unsubstituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl;

4) Substituted or unsubstituted —C₂-C₈ alkynyl;

5) Substituted or unsubstituted arylalkyl;

6) Substituted or unsubstituted aryl;

7) —C(O)NR₁₀R₁₁;

8) —C(O)NHSO₂R₁;

9) —SO₂R₁; and

10) —C(O)R₁;

Alternatively, R_(a) and R_(b) are taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached to form a heterocyclic ring.

R₁ is selected from the group consisting of:

1) Halogen;

2) Hydroxyl;

3) Substituted or unsubstituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl;

4) Substituted or unsubstituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl;

5) Substituted or unsubstituted —C₂-C₈ alkynyl;

6) Substituted or unsubstituted —C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl;

7) Substituted or unsubstituted aryl;

8) Substituted or unsubstituted arylalkyl;

9) Substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkyl;

10) Substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl;

11) Substituted or unsubstituted heteroarylalkyl; and

12) —NR₁₀R₁₁.

R₂ is selected from the group consisting of:

1) Hydrogen;

2) Substituted or unsubstituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl;

3) Substituted or unsubstituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl;

4) Substituted or unsubstituted —C₂-C₈ alkynyl;

5) Substituted or unsubstituted arylalkyl; and

6) Substituted or unsubstituted aryl.

Preferably R₂ is hydrogen or methyl.

R_(c) is selected from the group consisting of:

1) Hydrogen;

2) Substituted or unsubstituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl;

3) Substituted or unsubstituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl;

4) Substituted or unsubstituted —C₂-C₈ alkynyl;

5) Substituted or unsubstituted arylalkyl;

6) Substituted or unsubstituted aryl.

Alternatively, R₂ and R_(c) are taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form a cyclic ring, preferably a cycloalkyl or cycloalkylene.

m is selected from 0, 1, 2 and 3, preferably m is from 0 to 2.

R₃ is hydrogen, hydroxyl, —OSO₃H, —OSO₃ ⁻, —OAc, —OPO₃H₂ or —OPO₃ ²⁻; preferably R₃ is hydrogen.

R₄ is hydrogen, halogen, CN, N₃, hydroxyl, —OSO₃H, —OSO₃ ⁻, —OAc, —OPO₃H₂, —OPO₃ ²⁻, —SR₂ or —NHR₂, wherein, R₂ is as defined previously; preferably R₄ is hydrogen.

Alternatively, R₃ and R₄ are taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form —CH═CH— or cycloalkyl ring or heterocycloalkyl ring, such as, but not limited to cyclopropyl, or epoxide.

R₅ and R₆ are independently selected from hydrogen or hydroxyl protecting group such as, but not limited to, acetyl, trimethyl silyl, or benzyl; preferably R₅ and R₆ are hydrogen.

R₇ is selected from the group consisting of:

1) Hydrogen;

2) Halogen;

3) Substituted or unsubstituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl;

4) Substituted or unsubstituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl;

5) Substituted or unsubstituted —C₂-C₈ alkynyl; and

6) Substituted or unsubstituted —C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl; preferably R₇ is C₁-C₄-alkyl, more preferably R₇ is ethyl.

R₁₀ and R₁₁ are each independently selected from hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted —C₂-C₈ alkynyl, and substituted or unsubstituted —C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, or R₁₀ and R₁₁ are taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached to form a heterocyclic ring.

Each preferred group stated above can be taken in combination with one, any or all other preferred groups.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound or combination of compounds of the present invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt form, stereoisomer, solvate, hydrate or combination thereof, in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method for the prevention or treatment of an FXR mediated disease or condition. The method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula (I). The present invention also provides the use of a compound of formula (I) for the preparation of a medicament for the prevention or treatment of an FXR mediated disease or condition.

In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a method for the prevention or treatment of a TGR5 mediated disease or condition. The method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula (I). The present invention also provides the use of a compound of formula (I) for the preparation of a medicament for the prevention or treatment of a TGR5 mediated disease or condition.

In certain embodiments, a disease that involves modulation of the TGR5 receptor is selected from metabolic disease, inflammatory disease, liver disease, autoimmune disease, cardiac disease, kidney disease, cancer, and gastrointestinal disease.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A first embodiment of the invention is a compound represented by Formula I as described above, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, ester or prodrug thereof. In preferred compounds of Formula I, R₂, R_(c), R₃, R₄, R₅, and R₆ are each hydrogen and R₇ is ethyl.

In preferred embodiments, the compounds of the invention have the stereochemistry set forth in Formula IA:

In certain embodiments of the compounds of the invention, R_(a) is C₁-C₄-alkyl; halogenated C₁-C₄-alkyl; C₁-C₄-alkenyl; phenyl-C₁-C₄-alkyl; substituted or unsubstituted C₃-C₆-cycloalkyl; C₁-C₆-cycloalkyl-C₁-C₄-alkyl; heteroaryl, such as 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl; or substituted or unsubstituted aryl, such as substituted or unsubstituted phenyl or naphthyl. In this embodiment, R_(b) is preferably hydrogen or C₁-C₄-alkyl, more preferably hydrogen or methyl.

In certain embodiments of the compounds of the invention, R_(a) is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, butyl, t-butyl, propyl, benzyl, vinyl, allyl, CF₃,

In other embodiments of the compounds of the invention, R_(a), R_(b) and the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a heterocycloalkyl or heterocycloalkenyl ring, preferably a 3 to 8-membered heterocycloalkyl or 3 to 8-membered heterocycloalkenyl and more preferably, a 3 to 6-membered heterocycloalkyl or a 3 to 6-membered heterocycloalkenyl. In certain embodiments, R_(a), R_(b) and the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a C₃-C₈-heterocycloalkyl or C₃-C₈-heterocycloalkenyl ring, more preferably a C₃-C₆-heterocycloalkyl or C₃-C₆-heterocycloalkenyl ring. In certain embodiments, R_(a), R_(b) and the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a ring selected from:

In certain embodiments of the compounds of the invention, R_(b) is —C(O)NHSO₂R₁, —SO₂R₁ or —C(O)R₁. R₁ is preferably amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, halogen, C₁-C₄-alkyl; halogenated C₁-C₄-alkyl; C₁-C₄-alkenyl; phenyl-C₁-C₄-alkyl; substituted or unsubstituted C₃-C₆-cycloalkyl; C₃-C₆-cycloalkyl-C₁-C₄-alkyl; C₃-C₆-heterocycloalkyl; C₃-C₆-heterocycloalkyl-C₁-C₄-alkyl; heteroaryl, such as 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl; or substituted or unsubstituted aryl, such as substituted or unsubstituted phenyl or naphthyl, including 4-t-butylphenyl. R_(a) is preferably hydrogen or C₁-C₄-alkyl, more preferably hydrogen or methyl and most preferably hydrogen.

In certain embodiments of the compounds of the invention, R₁ is selected from the group consisting of fluoro, amino, methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, butyl, t-butyl, propyl, benzyl, allyl, vinyl, CF₃, cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl, and the groups listed below:

A second embodiment of the invention is a compound represented by Formula II or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, ester or prodrug thereof,

wherein, R_(a), R_(b), R_(c), R₂, R₃, R₄, R₇ and m are as previously defined.

A third embodiment of the invention is a compound represented by Formula III or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, ester or prodrug thereof,

wherein, R_(a), R_(b), R_(c), R₂, R₃, R₇ and m are as previously defined.

Illustrative structures of formula (III) include, but are not limited by, formula (III-1˜III-18), where R_(a), R_(b), R_(c), R₁, R₂, R₇ and m are as previously defined:

A fourth embodiment of the invention is a compound represented by Formula IV or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, ester or prodrug thereof,

wherein R_(a), R_(b), and m are as previously defined.

Representative compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, the following compounds (compound 1 to compound 99 in Table 1) according to Formula IV, wherein, R_(a), R_(b) and m are delineated for each compound in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Compound m R_(a) R_(b)  1 0 Methyl H  2 0 Ethyl H  3 0 Isopropyl H  4 0 Butyl H  5 0 t-Butyl H  6 0 Propyl H  7 0 Benzyl H  8 0 Vinyl H  9 0 Allyl H 10 0 CF₃ H 11 0

H 12 0

H 13 0

H 14 0

H 15 0 Methyl Me 16 0 Ethyl Me 17 0 Isopropyl Me 18 0 t-Butyl Me 19 0 Propyl Me 20 0 Benzyl Me 21 0 Vinyl Me 22 0 Allyl Me 23 0 CF₃ Me 24 0

Me 25 0

Me 26 0

Me 27 0

28 0

29 0

30 0

31 0

32 0

33 0

34 1 Methyl H 35 1 Ethyl H 36 1 Isopropyl H 37 1 Butyl H 38 1 t-Butyl H 39 1 Propyl H 40 1 Benzyl H 41 1 Vinyl H 42 1 Allyl H 43 1 CF₃ H 44 1

H 45 1

H 46 1

H 47 1

H 48 1 Methyl Me 49 1 Ethyl Me 50 1 Isopropyl Me 51 1 t-Butyl Me 52 1 Propyl Me 53 1 Benzyl Me 54 1 Vinyl Me 55 1 Allyl Me 56 1 CF₃ Me 57 1

Me 58 1

Me 59 1

Me 60 1

61 1

62 1

63 1

64 1

65 1

66 1

67 2 Methyl H 68 2 Ethyl H 69 2 Isopropyl H 70 2 Butyl H 71 2 t-Butyl H 72 2 Propyl H 73 2 Benzyl H 74 2 Vinyl H 75 2 Allyl H 76 2 CF₃ H 77 2

H 78 2

H 79 2

H 80 2

H 81 2 Methyl Me 82 2 Ethyl Me 83 2 Isopropyl Me 84 2 t-Butyl Me 85 2 Propyl Me 86 2 Benzyl Me 87 2 Vinyl Me 88 2 Allyl Me 89 2 CF₃ Me 90 2

Me 91 2

Me 92 2

Me 93 2

94 2

95 2

96 2

97 2

98 2

99 2

A fifth embodiment of the invention is a compound represented by Formula V or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, ester or prodrug thereof,

wherein R₁ and m are as previously defined.

Representative compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, the following compounds (compound 100 to compound 180 in Table 2) according to Formula V, wherein, R₁ and m are delineated for each compound in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Compound m R₁ 100 0 Methyl 101 0 Ethyl 102 0 Isopropyl 103 0 Butyl 104 0 t-Butyl 105 0 Propyl 106 0 Benzyl 107 0 Vinyl 108 0 Allyl 109 0 CF₃ 110 0

111 0

112 0

113 0

114 0

115 0

116 0

117 0

118 0 NH₂ 119 0

120 0

121 0

122 0

123 0

124 0

125 0

126 0 F 127 1 Methyl 128 1 Ethyl 129 1 Isopropyl 130 1 Butyl 131 1 t-Butyl 132 1 Propyl 133 1 Benzyl 134 1 Vinyl 135 1 Allyl 136 1 CF₃ 137 1

138 1

139 1

140 1

141 1

142 1

143 1

144 1

145 1 NH₂ 146 1

147 1

148 1

149 1

150 1

151 1

152 1

153 1 F 154 2 Methyl 155 2 Ethyl 156 2 Isopropyl 157 2 Butyl 158 2 t-Butyl 159 2 Propyl 160 2 Benzyl 161 2 Vinyl 162 2 Allyl 163 2 CF₃ 164 2

165 2

166 2

167 2

168 2

169 2

170 2

171 2

172 2 NH₂ 173 2

174 2

175 2

176 2

177 2

178 2

179 2

180 2 F

A sixth embodiment of the invention is a compound represented by Formula VI or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, ester or prodrug thereof,

wherein R₁ and m are as previously defined.

Representative compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, the following compounds (compound 181 to compound 261 in Table 3) according to Formula VI, wherein R₁ and m are delineated for each compound in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Compound m R₁ 181 0 Methyl 182 0 Ethyl 183 0 Isopropyl 184 0 Butyl 185 0 t-Butyl 186 0 Propyl 187 0 Benzyl 188 0 Vinyl 189 0 Allyl 190 0 CF₃ 191 0

192 0

193 0

194 0

195 0

196 0

197 0

198 0

199 0 NH₂ 200 0

201 0

202 0

203 0

204 0

205 0

206 0

207 0 F 208 1 Methyl 209 1 Ethyl 210 1 Isopropyl 211 1 Butyl 212 1 t-Butyl 213 1 Propyl 214 1 Benzyl 215 1 Vinyl 216 1 Allyl 217 1 CF₃ 218 1

219 1

220 1

221 1

222 1

223 1

224 1

225 1

226 1 NH₂ 227 1

228 1

229 1

230 1

231 1

232 1

233 1

234 1 F 235 2 Methyl 236 2 Ethyl 237 2 Isopropyl 238 2 Butyl 239 2 t-Butyl 240 2 Propyl 241 2 Benzyl 242 2 Vinyl 243 2 Allyl 244 2 CF₃ 245 2

246 2

247 2

248 2

249 2

250 2

251 2

252 2

253 2 NH₂ 254 2

255 2

256 2

257 2

258 2

259 2

260 2

261 2 F

It will be appreciated that the description of the present invention herein should be construed in congruity with the laws and principles of chemical bonding. In some instances it may be necessary to remove a hydrogen atom in order to accommodate a substituent at any given location.

It will be yet appreciated that the compounds of the present invention may contain one or more asymmetric carbon atoms and may exist in racemic, diastereoisomeric, and optically active forms. It will still be appreciated that certain compounds of the present invention may exist in different tautomeric forms. All tautomers are contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention. In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method for the prevention or treatment of an FXR mediated disease or condition. The method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula (I). The present invention also provides the use of a compound of formula (I) for the preparation of a medicament for the prevention or treatment of an FXR mediated disease or condition.

In certain embodiments, the FXR-mediated disease or condition is cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, hypercholesteremia, or hyperlipidemia chronic liver disease, gastrointestinal disease, renal disease, metabolic disease, cancer (i.e., colorectal cancer), or neurological indications such as stroke.

In certain embodiments, the chronic liver disease is primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), drug induced cholestasis, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, parenteral nutrition associated cholestasis (PNAC), bacterial overgrowth or sepsis associated cholestasis, autoimmune hepatitis, chronic viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), liver transplant associated graft versus host disease, living donor transplant liver regeneration, congenital hepatic fibrosis, choledocholithiasis, granulomatous liver disease, intra- or extrahepatic malignancy, Sjogren's syndrome, Sarcoidosis, Wilson's disease, Gaucher's disease, hemochromatosis, or alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency. In certain embodiments, the gastrointestinal disease is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), bacterial overgrowth, malabsorption, post-radiation colitis, or microscopic colitis.

In certain embodiments, the renal disease is diabetic nephropathy, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), hypertensive nephrosclerosis, chronic glomerulonephritis, chronic transplant glomerulopathy, chronic interstitial nephritis, or polycystic kidney disease.

In certain embodiments, the cardiovascular disease is atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, dyslipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, or hypertriglyceridemia.

In certain embodiments, the metabolic disease is insulin resistance, Type I and Type II diabetes, or obesity.

In yet another embodiment, the invention provides the use of the compound or pharmaceutical composition of the invention, in the manufacture of a medicament for a treating or preventing a disease in a subject that involves modulation of the TGR5 receptor. The invention includes a method of treating or preventing a disease that involves modulation of the TGR5 receptor in a subject by administering a compound or pharmaceutical composition of the invention.

In certain embodiments, a disease that involves modulation of the TGR5 receptor is selected from metabolic disease, inflammatory disease, liver disease, autoimmune disease, cardiac disease, kidney disease, cancer, and gastrointestinal disease.

In one aspect, the invention provides for the use, wherein the disease is an inflammatory disease selected from allergy, osteoarthritis, appendicitis, bronchial asthma, pancreatitis, allergic rash, and psoriasis. The invention includes a method of treating or preventing an inflammatory disease selected from allergy, osteoarthritis, appendicitis, bronchial asthma, pancreatitis, allergic rash, and psoriasis.

In one aspect, the invention provides for the use, wherein the disease is an autoimmune disease selected from rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and type I diabetes. The invention includes a method of treating or preventing an autoimmune disease selected from rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and type I diabetes.

In one aspect, the invention provides for the use, wherein the disease is a gastrointestinal disease selected from inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis), short bowel syndrome (post-radiation colitis), microscopic colitis, irritable bowel syndrome (malabsorption), and bacterial overgrowth. The invention includes a method of treating or preventing a gastrointestinal disease selected from inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis), short bowel syndrome (post-radiation colitis), microscopic colitis, irritable bowel syndrome (malabsorption), and bacterial overgrowth.

In one aspect, the invention provides for the use, wherein the disease is kidney disease selected from diabetic nephropathy, chronic renal failure, hypertensive nephrosclerosis, chronic glomerulonephritis, chronic transplant glomerulopathy, chronic interstitial nephritis, and polycystic kidney disease. The invention includes a method of treating or preventing kidney disease selected from diabetic nephropathy, chronic renal failure, hypertensive nephrosclerosis, chronic glomerulonephritis, chronic transplant glomerulopathy, chronic interstitial nephritis, and polycystic kidney disease.

In one aspect, the invention provides for the use, wherein the disease is cancer selected from colorectal cancer, liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangio carcinoma, renal cancer, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, and insulanoma. The invention includes a method of treating or preventing cancer selected from colorectal cancer, liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangio carcinoma, renal cancer, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, and insulanoma.

In one aspect, the compound is a selective FXR agonist over TGR5 activator.

In one aspect, the compound is a selective TGR5 agonist over FXR activator.

In one aspect, the compound is a dual agonist for both FXR and TGR5.

Yet a further aspect of the present invention is a process of making any of the compounds delineated herein employing any of the synthetic means delineated herein.

Definitions

Listed below are definitions of various terms used to describe this invention. These definitions apply to the terms as they are used throughout this specification and claims, unless otherwise limited in specific instances, either individually or as part of a larger group.

The term “alkyl”, as used herein, refers to a saturated, monovalent straight- or branched-chain hydrocarbon group Preferred alkyl radicals include C₁-C₆ alkyl and C₁-C₈ alkyl radicals. Examples of C₁-C₆ alkyl groups include, but are not limited to, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, neopentyl, n-hexyl groups; and examples of C₁-C₈ alkyl groups include, but are not limited to, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, neopentyl, n-hexyl, heptyl, and octyl groups.

The term “alkenyl”, as used herein, denote a monovalent group derived from a hydrocarbon moiety by the removal of a single hydrogen atom wherein the hydrocarbon moiety has at least one carbon-carbon double bond. Preferred alkenyl groups include C₂-C₆ alkenyl and C₂-C₈ alkenyl groups. Alkenyl groups include, but are not limited to, for example, ethenyl, propenyl, butenyl, 1-methyl-2-buten-1-yl, heptenyl, octenyl and the like.

The term “alkynyl”, as used herein, denotes a monovalent group derived from a hydrocarbon moiety by the removal of a single hydrogen atom wherein the hydrocarbon moiety has at least one carbon-carbon triple bond. Preferred alkynyl groups include C₂-C₆ alkynyl and C₂-C₈ alkynyl groups. Representative alkynyl groups include, but are not limited to, for example, ethynyl, 1-propynyl, 1-butynyl, heptynyl, octynyl and the like.

The term “carbocycle” refers to a saturated (e.g., “cycloalkyl”), partially saturated (e.g., “cycloalkenyl” or “cycloalkynyl”) or completely unsaturated (e.g., “aryl”) ring system containing zero heteroatom ring atom. “Ring atoms” or “ring members” are the atoms bound together to form the ring or rings. Where a carbocycle group is a divalent moiety linking two other elements in a depicted chemical structure (such as Z in Formula I_(A)), the carbocycle group can be attached to the two other elements through any two substitutable ring atoms. A C₄-C₆ carbocycle has 4-6 ring atoms.

The term “cycloalkyl”, as used herein, denotes a monovalent group derived from a monocyclic or polycyclic saturated carbocyclic ring compound by the removal of a single hydrogen atom. Preferred cycloalkyl groups include C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl and C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl groups. Examples of C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl include, but are not limited to, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl and cyclooctyl; and examples of C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl include, but are not limited to, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, bicyclo [2.2.1] heptyl, and bicyclo [2.2.2] octyl.

The term “cycloalkenyl” as used herein, denote a monovalent group derived from a monocyclic or polycyclic carbocyclic ring compound having at least one carbon-carbon double bond by the removal of a single hydrogen atom. Preferred cycloalkenyl groups include C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl and C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl groups. Examples of C₃-C₈-cycloalkenyl include, but are not limited to, cyclopropenyl, cyclobutenyl, cyclopentenyl, cyclohexenyl, cycloheptenyl, cyclooctenyl, and the like; and examples of C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkenyl include, but are not limited to, cyclopropenyl, cyclobutenyl, cyclopentenyl, cyclohexenyl, cycloheptenyl, cyclooctenyl, and the like.

The term “aryl,” as used herein, refers to a mono- or bicyclic carbocyclic ring system radical having one or two aromatic rings including, but not limited to, phenyl, naphthyl, tetrahydronaphthyl, indanyl, indenyl and the like.

The term “arylalkyl,” as used herein, refers to a C₁-C₃ alkyl or C₁-C₆ alkyl radical attached to an aryl ring. Examples include, but are not limited to, benzyl, phenethyl and the like. The term “substituted arylalkyl” means an arylalkyl functional group in which the aryl group is substituted.

The term “heteroaryl,” as used herein, refers to a mono-, bi-, or tri-cyclic aromatic radical or ring having from five to ten ring atoms of which at least one ring atom is selected from S, O and N; wherein any N or S contained within the ring may be optionally oxidized. Preferred heteroaryl groups are monocyclic or bicyclic. Heteroaryl groups include, but are not limited to, pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, isooxazolyl, thiadiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiophenyl, furanyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, benzimidazolyl, benzooxazolyl, quinoxalinyl, and the like.

The term “heteroarylalkyl,” as used herein, refers to a C₁-C₃ alkyl or C₁-C₆ alkyl radical attached to a heteroaryl ring. Examples include, but are not limited to, pyridinylmethyl, pyrimidinylethyl and the like. The term “substituted heteroarylalkyl” means a heteroarylalkyl functional group in which the heteroaryl group is substituted.

As used herein, the term “alkoxy” employed alone or in combination with other terms means, unless otherwise stated, an alkyl group having the designated number of carbon atoms connected to the rest of the molecule via an oxygen atom, such as, for example, methoxy, ethoxy, 1-propoxy, 2-propoxy (isopropoxy) and the higher homologs and isomers. Preferred alkoxy are (C₁-C₃) alkoxy.

It is understood that any alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclic and cycloalkenyl moiety described herein can also be an aliphatic group or an alicyclic group. The term “substituted” as used herein, refers to independent replacement of one, two, or three or more of the hydrogen atoms thereon with substituents including, but not limited to, deuterium, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —OH, protected hydroxy, —NO₂, —CN, —NH₂, N₃, protected amino, alkoxy, thioalkoxy, oxo, C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl-halo-C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, -halo-C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, -halo-C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, -halo-C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —NH—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —NH—C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —NH—C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —NH—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —NH-aryl, —NH-heteroaryl, —NH-heterocycloalkyl, -dialkylamino, -diarylamino, -diheteroarylamino, —O—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —O—C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —O—C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —O—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —O-aryl, —O-heteroaryl, —O-heterocycloalkyl, —C(O)— C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —C(O)— C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —C(O)— C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —C(O)—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —C(O)-aryl, —C(O)-heteroaryl, —C(O)-heterocycloalkyl, —CONH₂, —CONH— C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —CONH— C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —CONH—C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —CONHC₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —CONH-aryl, —CONH-heteroaryl, —CONH— heterocycloalkyl, —OCO₂— C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —OCO₂— C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —OCO₂— C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —OCO₂—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —OCO₂-aryl, —OCO₂-heteroaryl, —OCO₂-heterocycloalkyl, —OCONH₂, —OCONH— C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —OCONH— C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —OCONH— C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —OCONH— C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —OCONH— aryl, —OCONH— heteroaryl, —OCONH— heterocycloalkyl, —NHC(O)— C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —NHC(O)—C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —NHC(O)—C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —NHC(O)—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —NHC(O)-aryl, —NHC(O)-heteroaryl, —NHC(O)— heterocycloalkyl, —NHCO₂— C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —NHCO₂— C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —NHCO₂— C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —NHCO₂— C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —NHCO₂— aryl, —NHCO₂— heteroaryl, —NHCO₂— heterocycloalkyl, —NHC(O)NH₂, —NHC(O)NH— C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —NHC(O)NH—C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —NHC(O)NH—C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —NHC(O)NH—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —NHC(O)NH-aryl, —NHC(O)NH-heteroaryl, —NHC(O)NH-heterocycloalkyl, NHC(S)NH₂, —NHC(S)NH— C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —NHC(S)NH—C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —NHC(S)NH—C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —NHC(S)NH—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —NHC(S)NH-aryl, —NHC(S)NH-heteroaryl, —NHC(S)NH-heterocycloalkyl, —NHC(NH)NH₂, —NHC(NH)NH— C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —NHC(NH)NH—C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —NHC(NH)NH—C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —NHC(NH)NH—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —NHC(NH)NH-aryl, —NHC(NH)NH-heteroaryl, —NHC(NH)NH— heterocycloalkyl, —NHC(NH)—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —NHC(NH)—C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —NHC(NH)—C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —NHC(NH)—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —NHC(NH)-aryl, —NHC(NH)-heteroaryl, —NHC(NH)— heterocycloalkyl, —C(NH)NH—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —C(NH)NH—C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —C(NH)NH—C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —C(NH)NH—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —C(NH)NH-aryl, —C(NH)NH-heteroaryl, —C(NH)NH— heterocycloalkyl, —S(O)—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —S(O)—C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —S(O)—C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —S(O)—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —S(O)-aryl, —S(O)-heteroaryl, —S(O)-heterocycloalkyl —SO₂NH₂, —SO₂NH—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —SO₂NH— C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —SO₂NH— C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —SO₂NH— C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —SO₂NH— aryl, —SO₂NH— heteroaryl, —SO₂NH— heterocycloalkyl, —NHSO₂—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —NHSO₂—C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —NHSO₂—C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —NHSO₂—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —NHSO₂-aryl, —NHSO₂-heteroaryl, —NHSO₂-heterocycloalkyl, —CH₂NH₂, —CH₂SO₂CH₃, -aryl, -arylalkyl, -heteroaryl, -heteroarylalkyl, -heterocycloalkyl, —C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, polyalkoxyalkyl, polyalkoxy, -methoxymethoxy, -methoxyethoxy, —SH, —S—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —S—C₂-C₁₂-alkenyl, —S—C₂-C₁₂-alkynyl, —S—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —S-aryl, —S-heteroaryl, —S— heterocycloalkyl, methylthiomethyl, or -L′-R′, wherein L′ is C₁-C₆alkylene, C₂-C₆alkenylene or C₂-C₆alkynylene, and R′ is aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, C₃-C₁₂cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂cycloalkenyl. It is understood that the aryls, heteroaryls, alkyls, and the like can be further substituted. In some cases, each substituent in a substituted moiety is additionally optionally substituted with one or more groups, each group being independently selected from —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —OH, —NO₂, —CN, or —NH₂.

In accordance with the invention, any of the aryls, substituted aryls, heteroaryls and substituted heteroaryls described herein, can be any aromatic group. Aromatic groups can be substituted or unsubstituted.

It is understood that any alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl and cycloalkenyl moiety described herein can also be an aliphatic group, an alicyclic group or a heterocyclic group. An “aliphatic group” is non-aromatic moiety that may contain any combination of carbon atoms, hydrogen atoms, halogen atoms, oxygen, nitrogen or other atoms, and optionally contain one or more units of unsaturation, e.g., double and/or triple bonds. An aliphatic group may be straight chained, branched or cyclic and preferably contains between about 1 and about 24 carbon atoms, more typically between about 1 and about 12 carbon atoms. In addition to aliphatic hydrocarbon groups, aliphatic groups include, for example, polyalkoxyalkyls, such as polyalkylene glycols, polyamines, and polyimines, for example. Such aliphatic groups may be further substituted. It is understood that aliphatic groups may be used in place of the alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkylene, alkenylene, and alkynylene groups described herein.

The term “alicyclic,” as used herein, denotes a monovalent group derived from a monocyclic or polycyclic saturated carbocyclic ring compound by the removal of a single hydrogen atom. Examples include, but are not limited to, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, bicyclo [2.2.1] heptyl, and bicyclo [2.2.2] octyl. Such alicyclic groups may be further substituted.

The terms “heterocyclic” and “heterocycloalkyl” can be used interchangeably and refer to a non-aromatic ring or a bi- or tri-cyclic group fused, bridge or spiro system, where (i) each ring system contains at least one heteroatom independently selected from oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen, (ii) each ring system can be saturated or unsaturated, (iii) the nitrogen and sulfur heteroatoms may optionally be oxidized, (iv) the nitrogen heteroatom may optionally be quaternized, (v) any of the above rings may be fused to an aromatic ring, and (vi) the remaining ring atoms are carbon atoms which may be optionally oxo-substituted. Representative heterocycloalkyl groups include, but are not limited to, 1,3-dioxolane, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazolinyl, pyrazolidinyl, imidazolinyl, imidazolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, oxazolidinyl, isoxazolidinyl, morpholinyl, thiazolidinyl, isothiazolidinyl, quinoxalinyl, pyridazinonyl, and tetrahydrofuryl. Such heterocyclic groups may be further substituted. Heteroaryl or heterocyclic groups can be C-attached or N-attached (where possible). Examples include, but are not limited to, 3-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonanyl, 2-oxa-7-azasprio[4.4]nonanyl, and the like.

It will be apparent that in various embodiments of the invention, the substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl, arylalkyl, heteroarylalkyl, and heterocycloalkyl are intended to be monovalent or divalent. Thus, alkylene, alkenylene, and alkynylene, cycloaklylene, cycloalkenylene, cycloalkynylene, arylalkylene, hetoerarylalkylene and heterocycloalkylene groups are to be included in the above definitions, and are applicable to provide the formulas herein with proper valency.

The term “hydroxy activating group”, as used herein, refers to a labile chemical moiety which is known in the art to activate a hydroxy group so that it will depart during synthetic procedures such as in a substitution or elimination reactions. Examples of hydroxy activating group include, but not limited to, mesylate, tosylate, triflate, p-nitrobenzoate, phosphonate and the like.

The term “activated hydroxy”, as used herein, refers to a hydroxy group activated with a hydroxy activating group, as defined above, including mesylate, tosylate, triflate, p-nitrobenzoate, phosphonate groups, for example.

The term “protected hydroxy,” as used herein, refers to a hydroxy group protected with a hydroxy protecting group, as defined above, including benzoyl, acetyl, trimethylsilyl, triethylsilyl, and methoxymethyl groups.

The term “hydroxy protecting group,” as used herein, refers to a labile chemical moiety which is known in the art to protect a hydroxy group against undesired reactions during synthetic procedures. After said synthetic procedure(s) the hydroxy protecting group as described herein may be selectively removed. Hydroxy protecting groups as known in the are described generally in T. H. Greene and P. G., S. M. Wuts, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, 3rd edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York (1999). Examples of hydroxy protecting groups include benzyloxycarbonyl, 4-nitrobenzyloxycarbonyl, 4-bromobenzyloxycarbonyl, 4-methoxybenzyloxycarbonyl, methoxycarbonyl, tert-butoxycarbonyl, isopropoxycarbonyl, diphenylmethoxycarbonyl, 2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonyl, 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethoxycarbonyl, 2-furfuryloxycarbonyl, allyloxycarbonyl, acetyl, formyl, chloroacetyl, trifluoroacetyl, methoxyacetyl, phenoxyacetyl, benzoyl, methyl, t-butyl, 2,2,2-trichloroethyl, 2-trimethylsilyl ethyl, 1,1-dimethyl-2-propenyl, 3-methyl-3-butenyl, allyl, benzyl, para-methoxybenzyldiphenylmethyl, triphenylmethyl (trityl), tetrahydrofuryl, methoxymethyl, methylthiomethyl, benzyloxymethyl, 2,2,2-trichloroethoxymethyl, 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethoxymethyl, methanesulfonyl, para-toluenesulfonyl, trimethylsilyl, triethylsilyl, triisopropylsilyl, and the like. Preferred hydroxy protecting groups for the present invention are acetyl (Ac or —C(O)CH₃), benzoyl (Bz or —C(O)C₆H₅), and trimethylsilyl (TMS or —Si(CH₃)₃).

The terms “halo” and “halogen,” as used herein, refer to an atom selected from fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine.

The term “hydrogen” includes hydrogen and deuterium. In addition, the recitation of an atom of an element includes all isotopes of that element so long as the resulting compound is pharmaceutically acceptable.

In certain embodiments, the compounds of each formula herein include isotopically labelled compounds. An “isotopically labelled compound” is a compound in which at least one atomic position is enriched in a specific isotope of the designated element to a level which is significantly greater than the natural abundance of that isotope. For example, one or more hydrogen atom positions in a compound can be enriched with deuterium to a level which is significantly greater than the natural abundance of deuterium, for example, enrichment to a level of at least 1%, preferably at least 20% or at least 50%. Such a deuterated compound may, for example, be metabolized more slowly than its non-deuterated analog, and therefore exhibit a longer half-life when administered to a subject. Such compounds can synthesize using methods known in the art, for example by employing deuterated starting materials. Unless stated to the contrary, isotopically labelled compounds are pharmaceutically acceptable.

The term “leaving group” means a functional group or atom which can be displaced by another functional group or atom in a substitution reaction, such as a nucleophilic substitution reaction. By way of example, representative leaving groups include chloro, bromo and iodo groups; sulfonic ester groups, such as mesylate, tosylate, brosylate, nosylate and the like; and acyloxy groups, such as acetoxy, trifluoroacetoxy and the like.

The compounds described herein contain one or more asymmetric centers and thus give rise to enantiomers, diastereomers, and other stereoisomeric forms that may be defined, in terms of absolute stereochemistry, as (R)- or (S)-, or as (D)- or (L)- for amino acids. The present invention is meant to include all such possible isomers, as well as their racemic and optically pure forms. Optical isomers may be prepared from their respective optically active precursors by the procedures described above, or by resolving the racemic mixtures. The resolution can be carried out in the presence of a resolving agent, by chromatography or by repeated crystallization or by some combination of these techniques, which are known to those skilled in the art. Further details regarding resolutions can be found in Jacques, et al., Enantiomers, Racemates, and Resolutions (John Wiley & Sons, 1981). When the compounds described herein contain olefinic double bonds or other centers of geometric asymmetry, and unless specified otherwise, it is intended that the compounds include both E and Z geometric isomers. Likewise, all tautomeric forms are also intended to be included. The configuration of any carbon-carbon double bond appearing herein is selected for convenience only and is not intended to designate a particular configuration unless the text so states; thus a carbon-carbon double bond depicted arbitrarily herein as trans may be cis, trans, or a mixture of the two in any proportion.

The term “subject” as used herein refers to a mammal. A subject therefore refers to, for example, dogs, cats, horses, cows, pigs, guinea pigs, and the like. Preferably the subject is a human. When the subject is a human, the subject may be referred to herein as a patient.

As used herein, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” refers to those salts of the compounds formed by the process of the present invention which are, within the scope of sound medical judgment, suitable for use in contact with the tissues of humans and lower animals without undue toxicity, irritation, allergic response and the like, and are commensurate with a reasonable benefit/risk ratio. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts are well known in the art.

Berge, et al. describes pharmaceutically acceptable salts in detail in J. Pharmaceutical Sciences, 66: 1-19 (1977). The salts can be prepared in situ during the final isolation and purification of the compounds of the invention, or separately by reacting the free base function with a suitable organic acid. Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts include, but are not limited to, nontoxic acid addition salts e.g., salts of an amino group formed with inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid and perchloric acid or with organic acids such as acetic acid, maleic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, succinic acid or malonic acid or by using other methods used in the art such as ion exchange. Other pharmaceutically acceptable salts include, but are not limited to, adipate, alginate, ascorbate, aspartate, benzenesulfonate, benzoate, bisulfate, borate, butyrate, camphorate, camphorsulfonate, citrate, cyclopentanepropionate, digluconate, dodecylsulfate, ethanesulfonate, formate, fumarate, glucoheptonate, glycerophosphate, gluconate, hemisulfate, heptanoate, hexanoate, hydroiodide, 2-hydroxy-ethanesulfonate, lactobionate, lactate, laurate, lauryl sulfate, malate, maleate, malonate, methanesulfonate, 2-naphthalenesulfonate, nicotinate, nitrate, oleate, oxalate, palmitate, pamoate, pectinate, persulfate, 3-phenylpropionate, phosphate, picrate, pivalate, propionate, stearate, succinate, sulfate, tartrate, thiocyanate, p-toluenesulfonate, undecanoate, valerate salts, and the like. Representative alkali or alkaline earth metal salts include sodium, lithium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and the like. Further pharmaceutically acceptable salts include, when appropriate, nontoxic ammonium, quaternary ammonium, and amine cations formed using counterions such as halide, hydroxide, carboxylate, sulfate, phosphate, nitrate, alkyl having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, sulfonate and aryl sulfonate.

Pharmaceutically acceptable salts can also be prepared by deprotonation of the parent compound with a suitable base, thereby forming the anionic conjugate base of the parent compound. In such salts the counter ion is a cation. Suitable cations include ammonium and metal cations, such as alkali metal cations, including Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺ and Cs⁺, and alkaline earth metal cations, such as Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺.

The term “amino protecting group,” as used herein, refers to a labile chemical moiety which is known in the art to protect an amino group against undesired reactions during synthetic procedures. After said synthetic procedure(s) the amino protecting group as described herein may be selectively removed. Amino protecting groups as known in the are described generally in T. H. Greene and P. G. M. Wuts, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, 3rd edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York (1999). Examples of amino protecting groups include, but are not limited to, t-butoxycarbonyl, 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl, benzyloxycarbonyl, and the like.

As used herein, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable ester” refers to esters of the compounds formed by the process of the present invention which hydrolyze in vivo and include those that break down readily in the human body to leave the parent compound or a salt thereof. Suitable ester groups include, for example, those derived from pharmaceutically acceptable aliphatic carboxylic acids, particularly alkanoic, alkenoic, cycloalkanoic and alkanedioic acids, in which each alkyl or alkenyl moiety advantageously has not more than 6 carbon atoms. Examples of particular esters include, but are not limited to, formates, acetates, propionates, butyrates, acrylates and ethylsuccinates.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable prodrugs” as used herein refers to those prodrugs of the compounds formed by the process of the present invention which are, within the scope of sound medical judgment, suitable for use in contact with the tissues of humans and lower animals with undue toxicity, irritation, allergic response, and the like, commensurate with a reasonable benefit/risk ratio, and effective for their intended use, as well as the zwitterionic forms, where possible, of the compounds of the present invention. “Prodrug”, as used herein means a compound, which is convertible in vivo by metabolic means (e.g. by hydrolysis) to afford any compound delineated by the formulae of the instant invention. Various forms of prodrugs are known in the art, for example, as discussed in Bundgaard, (ed.), Design of Prodrugs, Elsevier (1985); Widder, et al. (ed.), Methods in Enzymology, Vol. 4, Academic Press (1985); Krogsgaard-Larsen, et al., (ed). “Design and Application of Prodrugs, Textbook of Drug Design and Development, Chapter 5, 113-191 (1991); Bundgaard, et al., Journal of Drug Deliver Reviews, 8:1-38 (1992); Bundgaard, J. of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 77:285 et seq. (1988); Higuchi and Stella (eds.) Prodrugs as Novel Drug Delivery Systems, American Chemical Society (1975); and Bernard Testa & Joachim Mayer, “Hydrolysis In Drug And Prodrug Metabolism: Chemistry, Biochemistry And Enzymology,” John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. (2002).

The term “treating”, as used herein, means relieving, lessening, reducing, eliminating, modulating, or ameliorating, i.e. causing regression of the disease state or condition. Treating can also include inhibiting, i.e. arresting the development, of a existing disease state or condition, and relieving or ameliorating, i.e. causing regression of an existing disease state or condition, for example when the disease state or condition may already be present.

The term “preventing”, as used herein means, to completely or almost completely stop a disease state or condition, from occurring in a patient or subject, especially when the patient or subject is predisposed to such or at risk of contracting a disease state or condition.

Additionally, the compounds of the present invention, for example, the salts of the compounds, can exist in either hydrated or unhydrated (the anhydrous) form or as solvates with other solvent molecules. Nonlimiting examples of hydrates include monohydrates, dihydrates, etc. Nonlimiting examples of solvates include ethanol solvates, acetone solvates, etc.

“Solvates” means solvent addition forms that contain either stoichiometric or non stoichiometric amounts of solvent. Some compounds have a tendency to trap a fixed molar ratio of solvent molecules in the crystalline solid state, thus forming a solvate. If the solvent is water the solvate formed is a hydrate, when the solvent is alcohol, the solvate formed is an alcoholate. Hydrates are formed by the combination of one or more molecules of water with one of the substances in which the water retains its molecular state as H₂O, such combination being able to form one or more hydrate.

As used herein, the term “analog” refers to a chemical compound that is structurally similar to another but differs slightly in composition (as in the replacement of one atom by an atom of a different element or in the presence of a particular functional group, or the replacement of one functional group by another functional group). Thus, an analog is a compound that is similar to or comparable in function and appearance to the reference compound.

The term “aprotic solvent,” as used herein, refers to a solvent that is relatively inert to proton activity, i.e., not acting as a proton-donor. Examples include, but are not limited to, hydrocarbons, such as hexane and toluene, for example, halogenated hydrocarbons, such as, for example, methylene chloride, ethylene chloride, chloroform, and the like, heterocyclic compounds, such as, for example, tetrahydrofuran and N-methylpyrrolidinone, and ethers such as diethyl ether, bis-methoxymethyl ether. Such solvents are well known to those skilled in the art, and individual solvents or mixtures thereof may be preferred for specific compounds and reaction conditions, depending upon such factors as the solubility of reagents, reactivity of reagents and preferred temperature ranges, for example. Further discussions of aprotic solvents may be found in organic chemistry textbooks or in specialized monographs, for example: Organic Solvents Physical Properties and Methods of Purification, 4th ed., edited by John A. Riddick et al., Vol. II, in the Techniques of Chemistry Series, John Wiley & Sons, N Y, 1986.

The terms “protogenic organic solvent” or “protic solvent” as used herein, refer to a solvent that tends to provide protons, such as an alcohol, for example, methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, t-butanol, and the like. Such solvents are well known to those skilled in the art, and individual solvents or mixtures thereof may be preferred for specific compounds and reaction conditions, depending upon such factors as the solubility of reagents, reactivity of reagents and preferred temperature ranges, for example. Further discussions of protogenic solvents may be found in organic chemistry textbooks or in specialized monographs, for example: Organic Solvents Physical Properties and Methods of Purification, 4th ed., edited by John A. Riddick et al., Vol. II, in the Techniques of Chemistry Series, John Wiley & Sons, N Y, 1986.

Combinations of substituents and variables envisioned by this invention are only those that result in the formation of stable compounds. The term “stable”, as used herein, refers to compounds which possess stability sufficient to allow manufacture and which maintains the integrity of the compound for a sufficient period of time to be useful for the purposes detailed herein (e.g., therapeutic or prophylactic administration to a subject).

The synthesized compounds can be separated from a reaction mixture and further purified by a method such as column chromatography, high pressure liquid chromatography, or recrystallization. Additionally, the various synthetic steps may be performed in an alternate sequence or order to give the desired compounds. In addition, the solvents, temperatures, reaction durations, etc. delineated herein are for purposes of illustration only and variation of the reaction conditions can produce the desired bridged macrocyclic products of the present invention. Synthetic chemistry transformations and protecting group methodologies (protection and deprotection) useful in synthesizing the compounds described herein include, for example, those described in R. Larock, Comprehensive Organic Transformations, VCH Publishers (1989); T. W. Greene and P. G. M. Wuts, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, 2d. Ed., John Wiley and Sons (1991); L. Fieser and M. Fieser, Fieser and Fieser's Reagents for Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons (1994); and L. Paquette, ed., Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons (1995).

The compounds of this invention may be modified by appending various functionalities via synthetic means delineated herein to enhance selective biological properties. Such modifications include those which increase biological penetration into a given biological system (e.g., blood, lymphatic system, central nervous system), increase oral availability, increase solubility to allow administration by injection, alter metabolism and alter rate of excretion.

Pharmaceutical Compositions

The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention comprise a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the present invention formulated together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. As used herein, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” means a non-toxic, inert solid, semi-solid or liquid filler, diluent, encapsulating material or formulation auxiliary of any type. Some examples of materials which can serve as pharmaceutically acceptable carriers are sugars such as lactose, glucose and sucrose; starches such as corn starch and potato starch; cellulose and its derivatives such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose and cellulose acetate; powdered tragacanth; malt; gelatin; talc; excipients such as cocoa butter and suppository waxes; oils such as peanut oil, cottonseed oil; safflower oil; sesame oil; olive oil; corn oil and soybean oil; glycols; such a propylene glycol; esters such as ethyl oleate and ethyl laurate; agar; buffering agents such as magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide; alginic acid; pyrogen-free water; isotonic saline; Ringer's solution; ethyl alcohol, and phosphate buffer solutions, as well as other non-toxic compatible lubricants such as sodium lauryl sulfate and magnesium stearate, as well as coloring agents, releasing agents, coating agents, sweetening, flavoring and perfuming agents, preservatives and antioxidants can also be present in the composition, according to the judgment of the formulator. The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention can be administered to humans and other animals orally, rectally, parenterally, intracisternally, intravaginally, intraperitoneally, topically (as by powders, ointments, or drops), buccally, or as an oral or nasal spray.

The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may be administered orally, parenterally, by inhalation spray, topically, rectally, nasally, buccally, vaginally or via an implanted reservoir, preferably by oral administration or administration by injection. The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may contain any conventional non-toxic pharmaceutically-acceptable carriers, adjuvants or vehicles. In some cases, the pH of the formulation may be adjusted with pharmaceutically acceptable acids, bases or buffers to enhance the stability of the formulated compound or its delivery form. The term parenteral as used herein includes subcutaneous, intracutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, intraarticular, intraarterial, intrasynovial, intrasternal, intrathecal, intralesional and intracranial injection or infusion techniques.

Liquid dosage forms for oral administration include pharmaceutically acceptable emulsions, microemulsions, solutions, suspensions, syrups and elixirs. In addition to the active compounds, the liquid dosage forms may contain inert diluents commonly used in the art such as, for example, water or other solvents, solubilizing agents and emulsifiers such as ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, ethyl carbonate, ethyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, propylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, dimethylformamide, oils (in particular, cottonseed, groundnut, corn, germ, olive, castor, and sesame oils), glycerol, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, polyethylene glycols and fatty acid esters of sorbitan, and mixtures thereof. Besides inert diluents, the oral compositions can also include adjuvants such as wetting agents, emulsifying and suspending agents, sweetening, flavoring, and perfuming agents.

Injectable preparations, for example, sterile injectable aqueous or oleaginous suspensions may be formulated according to the known art using suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents. The sterile injectable preparation may also be a sterile injectable solution, suspension or emulsion in a nontoxic parenterally acceptable diluent or solvent, for example, as a solution in 1,3-butanediol. Among the acceptable vehicles and solvents that may be employed are water, Ringer's solution, U.S.P. and isotonic sodium chloride solution. In addition, sterile, fixed oils are conventionally employed as a solvent or suspending medium. For this purpose, any bland fixed oil can be employed including synthetic mono- or diglycerides. In addition, fatty acids such as oleic acid are used in the preparation of injectables.

The injectable formulations can be sterilized, for example, by filtration through a bacterial-retaining filter, or by incorporating sterilizing agents in the form of sterile solid compositions which can be dissolved or dispersed in sterile water or other sterile injectable medium prior to use.

In order to prolong the effect of a drug, it is often desirable to slow the absorption of the drug from subcutaneous or intramuscular injection. This may be accomplished by the use of a liquid suspension of crystalline or amorphous material with poor water solubility. The rate of absorption of the drug then depends upon its rate of dissolution, which, in turn, may depend upon crystal size and crystalline form. Alternatively, delayed absorption of a parenterally administered drug form is accomplished by dissolving or suspending the drug in an oil vehicle. Injectable depot forms are made by forming microencapsule matrices of the drug in biodegradable polymers such as polylactide-polyglycolide. Depending upon the ratio of drug to polymer and the nature of the particular polymer employed, the rate of drug release can be controlled. Examples of other biodegradable polymers include poly(orthoesters) and poly(anhydrides). Depot injectable formulations are also prepared by entrapping the drug in liposomes or microemulsions which are compatible with body tissues.

Compositions for rectal or vaginal administration are preferably suppositories which can be prepared by mixing the compounds of this invention with suitable non-irritating excipients or carriers such as cocoa butter, polyethylene glycol or a suppository wax which are solid at ambient temperature but liquid at body temperature and therefore melt in the rectum or vaginal cavity and release the active compound.

Solid dosage forms for oral administration include capsules, tablets, pills, powders, and granules. In such solid dosage forms, the active compound is mixed with at least one inert, pharmaceutically acceptable excipient or carrier such as sodium citrate or dicalcium phosphate and/or: a) fillers or extenders such as starches, lactose, sucrose, glucose, mannitol, and silicic acid, b) binders such as, for example, carboxymethylcellulose, alginates, gelatin, polyvinylpyrrolidinone, sucrose, and acacia, c) humectants such as glycerol, d) disintegrating agents such as agar-agar, calcium carbonate, potato or tapioca starch, alginic acid, certain silicates, and sodium carbonate, e) solution retarding agents such as paraffin, f) absorption accelerators such as quaternary ammonium compounds, g) wetting agents such as, for example, cetyl alcohol and glycerol monostearate, h) absorbents such as kaolin and bentonite clay, and i) lubricants such as talc, calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, solid polyethylene glycols, sodium lauryl sulfate, and mixtures thereof. In the case of capsules, tablets and pills, the dosage form may also comprise buffering agents.

Solid compositions of a similar type may also be employed as fillers in soft and hard-filled gelatin capsules using such excipients as lactose or milk sugar as well as high molecular weight polyethylene glycols and the like.

The active compounds can also be in micro-encapsulated form with one or more excipients as noted above. The solid dosage forms of tablets, dragees, capsules, pills, and granules can be prepared with coatings and shells such as enteric coatings, release controlling coatings and other coatings well known in the pharmaceutical formulating art. In such solid dosage forms the active compound may be admixed with at least one inert diluent such as sucrose, lactose or starch. Such dosage forms may also comprise, as is normal practice, additional substances other than inert diluents, e.g., tableting lubricants and other tableting aids such a magnesium stearate and microcrystalline cellulose. In the case of capsules, tablets and pills, the dosage forms may also comprise buffering agents. They may optionally contain opacifying agents and can also be of a composition that they release the active ingredient(s) only, or preferentially, in a certain part of the intestinal tract, optionally, in a delayed manner. Examples of embedding compositions which can be used include polymeric substances and waxes.

Dosage forms for topical or transdermal administration of a compound of this invention include ointments, pastes, creams, lotions, gels, powders, solutions, sprays, inhalants or patches. The active component is admixed under sterile conditions with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and any needed preservatives or buffers as may be required. Ophthalmic formulation, ear drops, eye ointments, powders and solutions are also contemplated as being within the scope of this invention.

The ointments, pastes, creams and gels may contain, in addition to an active compound of this invention, excipients such as animal and vegetable fats, oils, waxes, paraffins, starch, tragacanth, cellulose derivatives, polyethylene glycols, silicones, bentonites, silicic acid, talc and zinc oxide, or mixtures thereof.

Powders and sprays can contain, in addition to the compounds of this invention, excipients such as lactose, talc, silicic acid, aluminum hydroxide, calcium silicates and polyamide powder, or mixtures of these substances. Sprays can additionally contain customary propellants such as chlorofluorohydrocarbons.

Transdermal patches have the added advantage of providing controlled delivery of a compound to the body. Such dosage forms can be made by dissolving or dispensing the compound in the proper medium. Absorption enhancers can also be used to increase the flux of the compound across the skin. The rate can be controlled by either providing a rate controlling membrane or by dispersing the compound in a polymer matrix or gel.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein are accorded the meaning commonly known to one with ordinary skill in the art. All publications, patents, published patent applications, and other references mentioned herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Abbreviations

Abbreviations which have been used in the descriptions of the schemes and the examples that follow are:

-   -   ACN for acetonitrile;     -   BME for 2-mercaptoethanol;     -   BOP for benzotriazol-1-yloxy-tris(dimethylamino)phosphonium         hexafluorophosphate;     -   BzCl for benzoyl chloride;     -   CDI for carbonyldiimidazole;     -   COD for cyclooctadiene;     -   DABCO for 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane;     -   DAST for diethylaminosulfur trifluoride;     -   DABCYL for         6-(N-4′-carboxy-4-(dimethylamino)azobenzene)-aminohexyl-1-O-(2-cyanoethyl)-(N,N-diisopropyl)-phosphoramidite;     -   DBU for 1, 8-Diazabicycloundec-7-ene;     -   DCC for N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide;     -   DCM for dichloromethane;     -   DIAD for diisopropyl azodicarboxylate;     -   DIBAL-H for diisobutylaluminum hydride;     -   DIPEA for diisopropyl ethylamine;     -   DMAP for N,N-dimethylaminopyridine;     -   DME for ethylene glycol dimethyl ether;     -   DMEM for Dulbecco's Modified Eagles Media;     -   DMF for N,N-dimethyl formamide;     -   DMSO for dimethylsulfoxide;     -   DSC for N,N′-disuccinimidyl carbonate;     -   DPPA for diphenylphosphoryl azide;     -   DUPHOS for

-   -   EDANS for 5-(2-Amino-ethylamino)-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid;     -   EDCI or EDC for 1-(3-diethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide         hydrochloride;     -   EtOAc for ethyl acetate;     -   EtOH for ethyl alcohol;     -   HATU for 0         (7-Azabenzotriazole-1-yl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium         hexafluorophosphate;     -   HCl for hydrochloric acid;     -   Hoveyda's Cat. for Dichloro(o-isopropoxyphenylmethylene)         (tricyclohexylphosphine)ruthenium(II);     -   In for indium;     -   KHMDS is potassium bis(trimethylsilyl) amide;     -   Ms for mesyl;     -   NMM for N-4-methylmorpholine;     -   NMI for N-methylimidazole;     -   NMO for N-4-methylmorpholine-N-Oxide;     -   PyBrOP for Bromo-tri-pyrolidino-phosphonium hexafluorophosphate;     -   Ph for phenyl;     -   RCM for ring-closing metathesis;     -   RT for reverse transcription;     -   RT-PCR for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction;     -   TBME for tert-butyl methyl ether;     -   TEA for triethyl amine;     -   Tf₂O for trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride;     -   TFA for trifluoroacetic acid;     -   THF for tetrahydrofuran;     -   TLC for thin layer chromatography;     -   (TMS)₂NH for hexamethyldisilazane;     -   TMSOTf for trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate;     -   TBS for t-Butyldimethylsilyl;     -   TMS for trimethylsilyl;     -   TPAP tetrapropylammonium perruthenate;     -   TPP or PPh₃ for triphenylphosphine;     -   TrCl for trityl chloride;     -   DMTrCl for 4,4′-dimethoxytrityl chloride;     -   tBOC or Boc for tert-butyloxy carbonyl.         Synthetic Methods

The compounds and processes of the present invention will be better understood in connection with the following synthetic schemes that illustrate the methods by which the compounds of the invention may be prepared, which are intended as an illustration only and not to limit the scope of the invention. Various changes and modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and such changes and modifications including, without limitation, those relating to the chemical structures, substituents, derivatives, and/or methods of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

As shown in Scheme 1, novel bile acid analogs of the compound of formula (1-7) are prepared from the compound of formula (1-1), wherein R₁, R₂, R_(c), m, and R₇ are defined as previously, R₈ is substituted or unsubstituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl; substituted or unsubstituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl; substituted or unsubstituted —C₂-C₈ alkynyl; substituted or unsubstituted arylalkyl; or substituted or unsubstituted aryl; and P₁ and P₂ are hydroxyl protecting groups. Thus, the two hydroxyl groups of the compound of formula (1-1) are protected with P₁ and P₂ groups to afford the compound of formula (1-2). P₁ and P₂ can be the same or different. P₁ and P₂ can be any hydroxyl protecting group such as, but not limited to Ac, Bz, chloroacetyl, TES, TBS, MOM and Bn. A more detailed discussion of the procedures, reagents and conditions for protection of hydroxyl group is described in literature, for example, by T. W. Greene and P. G. M. Wuts in “Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis” 3^(rd) ed., John Wiley & Son, Inc., 1999. Then, the compound of formula (1-2) reacts with N,O-dimethylhydroxyamine hydrochloride to give the compound of formula (1-3) in the presence of a coupling reagent such as, but not limited to, HATU, EDCI, DCC, HBTU, etc. and a base such as, but not limited to, TEA, DIPEA, DMAP, etc. The compound of formula (1-3) is converted to a ketone of formula (1-4) by reacting with a Grignard reagent R₂MgX or a lithium reagent R₂Li. The reaction solvent can be, but not limited to, THF, ether and toluene. The preferred solvent is THF. The reaction temperature is from −78° C.˜40° C. The compound of formula (1-4) is converted to an alcohol of formula (1-5) by reacting with a Grignard reagent R_(c)MgX or a lithium reagent R_(c)Li. The reaction solvent can be, but not limited to, THF, ether and toluene. The preferred solvent is THF. The reaction temperature is from −78° C.˜40° C. Reacting with sulfonyl isocyanates or sulfonyl carbamates afford the compound of formula (1-6). Then deprotection of P₁ and P₂ groups afford the sulfonylurea compound of formula (1-7). A more detailed discussion of the procedures, reagents and conditions for deprotection of hydroxyl pretecting groups is described in literature, for example, by T. W. Greene and P. G. M. Wuts in “Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis” 3^(rd) ed., John Wiley & Son, Inc., 1999. Alternatively, if R_(c)═R₂, the intermediate of formula (1-5) can be obtained from an ester of compound of formula (1-2) by reacting with excess amount of a Grignard reagent R_(c)MgX or a lithium reagent R_(c)Li.

As shown in Scheme 2, alternatively the compound of formula (2-3) is prepared from the compound of formula (1-2). P₁ and P₂ can be same or different. P₁ and P₂ can be any hydroxyl protecting group such as, but not limited to Ac, Bz, chloroacetyl, TES, TBS, MOM and Bn. A more detailed discussion of the procedures, reagents and conditions for protection of hydroxyl group is described in literature, for example, by T. W. Greene and P. G. M. Wuts in “Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis” 3^(rd) ed., John Wiley & Son, Inc., 1999.

Then, the compound of formula (1-2) is converted to the alcohol of formula (2-1) using suitable reducing reagent such as, but not limited to, LiAlH₄, BH₃, etc. The reaction solvent can be, but not limited to, THF, ether and toluene. The preferred solvent is THF. The reaction temperature is from −20° C.˜40° C. Reacting with sulfonyl isocyanates or sulfonyl carbamates afford the compound of formula (2-2). Then deprotection of P₁ and P₂ groups afford the sulfonylurea compound of formula (2-3). A more detailed discussion of the procedures, reagents and conditions for deprotection of hydroxyl pretecting groups is described in literature, for example, by T. W. Greene and P. G. M. Wuts in “Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis” 3^(rd) ed., John Wiley & Son, Inc., 1999.

Scheme 3 illustrates the preparation of the carbamate compound of formula (3-2) from the compound of formula (1-5), wherein R₂, R_(a), R_(c), m, R₇ and R₈ are defined as previously, P₁ and P₂ are hydroxyl protecting groups. Thus, the compound of formula (1-5) reacts with isocyanates or carbamates to afford the compound of formula (3-1) in the presence of base such as, but not limited to, DBU, TEA, DIPEA, DMAP, etc. . . . . Then deprotection of P₁ and P₂ groups afford the urea compound of formula (3-2). A more detailed discussion of the procedures, reagents and conditions for deprotection of hydroxyl pretecting groups is described in literature, for example, by T. W. Greene and P. G. M. Wuts in “Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis” 3^(rd) ed., John Wiley & Son, Inc., 1999.

Scheme 4 illustrates an alternative method to prepare the carbamate compounds of formula (4-3) and (1-7) from the compound of formula (1-5), wherein R₁, R₂, R_(a), R_(b), R_(c), m and R₇ are defined as previously, P₁ and P₂ are hydroxyl protecting groups. Thus, the compound of formula (1-5) is converted to the compound of formula (4-1) by reacting with CDI in the presence of base such as, but not limited to, DBU, TEA, DIPEA, and DMAP. Then the compound of formula (4-1) react with amine R_(a)NHR_(b) or sulfonamide R₁SO₂NH₂ in a one pot fashion to give the carbamate compounds of formula (4-2) and (1-6). Further deprotection of hydroxyl protecting group P₁ and P₂ give the compounds of formula (4-3) and (1-7). A more detailed discussion of the procedures, reagents and conditions for protection and deprotection of hydroxyl pretecting groups and amino protecting group are described in literature, for example, by T. W. Greene and P. G. M. Wuts in “Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis” 3^(rd) ed., John Wiley & Son, Inc., 1999.

An alternative procedure to prepare carbamate compounds of formula (4-2) and (1-7) is illustrated in scheme 5, wherein R₁, R₂, R_(a), R_(b), R_(c), m and R₇ are defined as previously, P₁ and P₂ are hydroxyl protecting groups. The compound of formula (1-3) reacts with p-nitrophenyl chloroformate to give the carbonate compound of formula (5-1) in the presence of base. Suitable bases include, but are not limited to, triethylamine, diisopropylethylamine, DBU, N-methylmorpholine and DMAP. The reaction is carried out in an aprotic solvent such as, but not limited to, CH₂Cl₂, DMF or THF. The reaction temperature can vary from 0° C. to about 50° C. The compound of formula (5-1) react with amine R_(a)NHR_(b) or sulfonamide R₁SO₂NH₂ in a one pot fashion to give the carbamate compounds of formula (4-2) and (1-6). Further deprotection of hydroxyl protecting group P₁ and P₂ give the compounds of formula (4-3) and (1-7). A more detailed discussion of the procedures, reagents and conditions for protection and deprotection of hydroxyl pretecting groups and amino protecting group are described in literature, for example, by T. W. Greene and P. G. M. Wuts in “Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis” 3^(rd) ed., John Wiley & Son, Inc., 1999.

The R₁S(O)₂NH₂ in Scheme 4 and Scheme 5 can be synthesized but not limited by the following methods.

Method 1

Step 1-1. Synthesis of M1-3

A mixture of CuI (230 mg, 1.2 mmol) and 1,10-phenanthroline (220 mg, 1.2 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (15 mL) was stirred at rt for 10 min under N₂. Then 4-bromo-N,N-bis(4-methoxybenzyl)benzenesulfonamide (compound M1-1, 480 mg, 1 mmol), 1H-pyrazole (210 mg, 3 mmol) and t-BuONa (300 mg, 3 mmol) were added to the mixture. After addition, this mixture was stirred at 120° C. for 15 hours under N₂. The resulting mixture was poured into water (200 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (100 mL×2). The combined organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified by flash silica chromatography, elution gradient 20 to 50% EtOAc in petroleum ether. Pure fractions were evaporated to dryness to afford the desired compound M1-3 (150 mg, 32%) as a yellow solid.

Step 1-2. Synthesis of Sulfonamide 1-1

N,N-bis(4-methoxybenzyl)-4-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)benzenesulfonamide (compound M1-3; 150 mg, 0.32 mmol) was dissolved in TFA (3 mL) and stirred at 40° C. for 3 hours. The reaction mixture was concentrated, water (10 mL) was added, adjusted to pH 8 with sat. NaHCO₃ and extracted with EtOAc (10 mL×2). The combined organic phase was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, filtered and evaporated to afford the desired compound (63 mg, 82%) as a white solid.

The following sulfonamides were synthesized employing the above method 1.

Sulfonamide 1-2

Sulfonamide 1-3

Method 2

Step 2-1. Synthesis of M2-1

A mixture of 4-bromo-N,N-bis(4-methoxybenzyl)benzenesulfonamide (compound M1-1; 192 mg, 0.4 mmol), azetidine (96 mg, 1.6 mmol), t-BuONa (80 mg, 0.8 mmol), Pd₂(dba)₃CHCl₃ (40 mg, 0.04 mmol) and X-Phos (76 mg, 0.16 mmol) in toluene (10 mL) was stirred at 120° C. for 15 hours under N₂. The resulting mixture was poured into water (50 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (30 mL×2). The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified by flash silica chromatography, elution gradient 20 to 50% EtOAc in petroleum ether. Pure fractions were evaporated to dryness to afford the desired compound (100 mg, 55%) as a yellow solid.

Step 2-2. Synthesis of Sulfonamide 2-1

4-(Azetidin-1-yl)-N,N-bis(4-methoxybenzyl)benzenesulfonamide (compound M2-1; 90 mg, 0.2 mmol) was dissolved in TFA (5 mL). The resulting solution was stirred at 40° C. for 3 hours. The reaction mixture was concentrated, water (100 mL) was added, then adjusted pH 8 with sat. NaHCO₃ and extracted with EtOAc (100 mL×2). The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified by flash silica chromatography, elution gradient 40 to 60% EtOAc in petroleum ether. Pure fractions were evaporated to dryness to afford the desired compound (35 mg, 83%) as a yellow solid. m/z (ES⁺) [M*2+H]⁺=424.95.

The following sulfonamides were synthesized employing the general procedure of method 2.

Sulfonamide 2-2

Sulfonamide 2-3

Sulfonamide 2-4

Sulfonamide 2-6

Method 3

Step 3-1. Synthesis of M3-2

2-Bromoethanol (14.2 g, 100 mmol) was added dropwise to sulfurisocyanatidic chloride (compound M3-1; 12.5 g, 100 mmol) in DCM (50 mL) at 0° C. over a period of 10 minutes under nitrogen. The resulting mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 0.5 hour. The reaction mixture was used directly in the next step.

Step 3-2. Synthesis of M3-3

To a solution of the methyl 2-aminoacetate (8.9 g, 100 mmol) and Et₃N (20.2 g, 200 mmol) in DMF (100 mL) was added 2-bromoethyl chlorosulfonylcarbamate (compound M3-2; 26.6 g, 100 mmol) over a period of 40 minutes with ice-bath cooling under nitrogen. The mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 5 hours, then for 12 hours at RT. DCM (500 mL) was added and washed sequentially with 1N HCl (200 mL×2) and brine (200 mL×2). The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified by flash silica chromatography, elution gradient 20 to 40% EtOAc in petroleum ether. Pure fractions were evaporated to dryness to afford the desired compound (8.9 g, 37%) as a yellow solid.

Step 3-3. Synthesis of M3-4

Methyl 2-(2-oxooxazolidine-3-sulfonamido)acetate (compound M3-3; 2.38 g, 10 mmol) was added to phenylmethanamine (1.28 g, 12 mmol) and Et₃N (3.1 g, 30 mmol) in CH₃CN (50 mL). The resulting solution was stirred at reflux for 2 hours. The reaction mixture was concentrated and purified by flash silica chromatography, elution gradient 20 to 50% EtOAc in petroleum ether. Pure fractions were evaporated to dryness to afford the desired compound (1.5 g, 58%) as a yellow solid.

Step 3-4. Synthesis of Sulfonamide 3-1

EtONa (5.1 g, 75 mmol) was added to methyl 2-(N-benzylsulfamoylamino)acetate (compound M3-4; 3.9 g, 15 mmol) in EtOH (50 mL) at rt. The mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 5 hours. Then the mixture was concentrated and purified by flash silica chromatography, elution gradient 30 to 70% EtOAc in petroleum ether. Pure fractions were evaporated to dryness to afford the desired compound (1.2 g, 35%) as a yellow solid.

Method 4

Step 4-1. Synthesis of M4-2

Ammonia (20 mL) was added to 6-chloropyridine-3-sulfonyl chloride (compound M4-1; 2.0 g, 9.48 mmol) in MeCN (5 mL). The mixture was stirred at RT for 30 min. The mixture was diluted with EtOAc (100 mL), and washed with brine. The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by Flash-Prep-HPLC ((IntelFlash-1): Column, C18; mobile phase MeCN/H₂O=0/100 increasing to MeCN/H₂O=10/90 within 20 min, Detector, UV 254 nm) to give PH-ETA-C-330-1 (1.45 g, 79.6%) as a white solid. m/z (ES⁺) [M+H]⁺=192.70; HPLC tR=0.403 min.

Step 4-2a. Synthesis of Sulfonamide 4-1

A solution of 6-chloropyridine-3-sulfonamide (compound M4-2; 400 mg, 2.08 mmol) in ethanol (5 mL) was added to piperidine (4 mL). The mixture was stirred at 90° C. for overnight. The mixture was diluted with EtOAc (100 mL), and washed with brine. The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by Flash-Prep-HPLC ((IntelFlash-1): Column, C18; mobile phase MeCN/H₂O=0/100 increasing to MeCN/H₂O=20/80 within 20 min, Detector, UV 254 nm) to give PH-ETA-C-330-2 (280 mg, 55.8%) as a yellow solid. m/z (ES⁺) [M+H]⁺=241.95; HPLC tR=0.787 min.

Step 4-2b. Synthesis of Sulfonamide 4-2

A solution of M4-2 (400 mg, 2.08 mmol) in ethanol (5 mL) was added to Morpholine (4 mL). The mixture was stirred at 90° C. for overnight. The mixture was diluted with EtOAc (100 mL), and washed with saturated brine. The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by Flash-Prep-HPLC ((IntelFlash-1): Column, C18; mobile phase MeCN/H₂O=0/100 increasing to MeCN/H₂O=20/80 within 20 min, Detector, UV 254 nm) to give PH-ETA-C-331-1 (290 mg, 57.4%) as a yellow solid. m/z (ES⁻) [M−H]⁻=242.00; HPLC tR=0.496 min.

The following sulfonamides were synthesized employing the general procedure of method 4.

Sulfonamide 4-3

Sulfonamide 4-4

Method 5

Pd(PPh₃)₄ (115 mg, 0.05 mmol) was added into phenylboronic acid (300 mg, 2.4 mmol), 5-bromothiophene-2-sulfonamide (500 mg, 2 mmol) and K₂CO₃ (1.2 g, 10 mmol) in THF (10 mL) and H₂O (2 mL). The mixture was stirred at 90° C. for 1 hour. The mixture was quenched with water, extracted with ethyl acetate (50 mL), dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash silica chromatography, elution gradient 50 to 100% EtOAc in petroleum ether. Pure fractions were evaporated to dryness to afford the title compound (310 mg, 62.8%) as a yellow solid. m/z (ES⁻) [M−H]⁻=237.95, tR=0.892 min.

The following sulfonamides were synthesized employing the general procedure of method 5.

Sulfonamide 5-2

Sulfonamide 5-3

Sulfonamide 5-4

Sulfonamide 5-5

Sulfonamide 5-6

Sulfonamide 5-7

Sulfonamide 5-8

Sulfonamide 5-9

Method 6

Pd(PPh₃)₄ (98 mg, 0.08 mmol) was added into 2-(tributylstannyl)pyrimidine (375 mg, 1.02 mmol), 4-bromobenzenesulfonamide (200 mg, 0.85 mmol), and Cu₂O (12 mg, 0.08 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (5 mL). The mixture was stirred at 100° C. for overnight under N₂. The reaction mixture was diluted with petroleum, saturated KF solution added and the precipitated stannyl fluoride filtered off and the filtrate extracted with EtOAc (20 mL), washed with water (10 mL), dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified by flash silica chromatography, elution gradient 50 to 100% EtOAc in petroleum ether. Pure fractions were evaporated to dryness to afford the desired Sulfonamide 6-1 (120 mg, 60%) as a white solid. m/z (ES⁺) [M*2+H]⁺=470.85, tR=0.602 min.

Method 7

A solution of biphenyl-4-sulfonyl chloride (200 mg, 0.79 mmol) in NH₃/MeOH (3 mL, 7 M) was stirred overnight at rt. The methanol was removed under reduced pressure and EtOAc (10 mL) was added. Then was washed sequentially with water (10 mL), and saturated NaCl (10 mL). The organic phase was dried over Na₂SO₄, then filtered and evaporated to afford of biphenyl-4-sulfonamide 7-1 (170 mg, 93%) as a white solid. m/z (ES⁻) [M−H]⁻=232.10, HPLC tR=0.650 min.

The following sulfonamides were synthesized employing the general procedure of method 7.

Sulfonamide 7-2

Sulfonamide 7-3

Sulfonamide 7-4

Sulfonamide 7-5

Sulfonamide 7-6

Sulfonamide 7-7

Sulfonamide 7-8

Sulfonamide 7-9

Sulfonamide 7-10

Sulfonamide 7-11

Sulfonamide 7-12

Method 8

4-Hydroxybenzenesulfonamide (500 mg, 2.89 mmol) was dissolved in DMA (5 mL). The solution obtained was heated to 50° C., then 50% KOH (0.5 mL) was added slowly. The mixture was kept at 60° C. for about 30 minutes. The water formed was evaporated off under reduced pressure. 2,2,2-Trifluoroethyl 4-methylbenzenesulfonate was slowly added, keeping the temperature of the reaction mixture between 120° C. and 140° C. Then the reaction mixture was stirred at 130° C. for 3 hours. The residue was taken up in water and extracted with EtOAc (20 mL*3). The combined organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by Flash-Prep-HPLC: Column, C18; mobile phase, MeCN/H₂O=0/100 increasing to MeCN/H₂O=55/45 within 30 min; Detector, UV 254 nm to give the desired sulfonamide 8-1, 4-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)benzenesulfonamide, (300 mg, 40%) as a yellow solid. m/z (ES⁻) [M−H]⁻=253.95; HPLC tR=1.172 min.

Method 9

Step 9-1. Synthesis of M9-2

A mixture of 4-(1H-tetrazol-1-yl)benzoic acid (compound M9-1; 500 mg, 2.64 mmol), DPPA (868 mg, 3.16 mmol), Et₃N (800 mg, 7.92 mmol) and BnOH (5.7 g, 53 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane/DMSO (15 mL/10 mL) was stirred at 100° C. for 5 hours under N₂. The resulting mixture was poured into water (200 mL) and extracted by EtOAc (100 mL×2). The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified by flash silica chromatography, elution gradient 30 to 50% EtOAc in petroleum ether. Pure fractions were evaporated to dryness to afford the desired compound (600 mg, 72%) as a white solid.

Step 9-2. Synthesis of M9-3

To a solution of benzyl 4-(1H-tetrazol-1-yl)phenylcarbamate (compound M9-2; 295 mg, 1 mmol) in MeOH (20 mL) was added Pd/C (100 mg, 10%) under N₂. The suspension was degassed under vacuum and purged with H₂ several times. The mixture was stirred under a H₂ balloon at RT for 2 hours. Then Pd/C was filtered out and the filtrate was concentrated to give the desired compound (152 mg, 93%) as a white solid.

Step 9-3. Synthesis of M9-4

To a solution of 4-(1H-tetrazol-1-yl)benzenamine (compound M9-3; 113 mg, 0.7 mmol) and con.HCl (2.8 mL) in CH₃CN/CH₃COOH (8 mL/1 mL) was added NaNO₂ (58 mg, 0.875 mmol) in water (1 mL) at −10° C. The mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 0.5 hour, then saturated SO₂ in AcOH (5 mL, 1.4 mmol) was added dropwise at a rate keeping the reaction temperature below 5° C. A solution of copper(I) chloride dihydrate (148 mg, 0.875 mmol) in water (1 mL) was added dropwise. The reaction mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 30 minutes and then at room temperature for 3 hours. The mixture was poured into ice-water (100 mL) and extracted by EtOAc (20 mL×2). The organic layer was concentrated to give the crude compound as a yellow solid which was used in the next step directly.

Step 9-4. Synthesis of Sulfonamide 9-1

To a solution of 4-(1H-tetrazol-1-yl)benzene-1-sulfonyl chloride (compound M9-4; 122 mg, 0.5 mmol) in CH₃CN (5 mL) was added ammonium hydroxide (2 mL). The mixture was stirred at RT for 30 min. Then water (20 mL) was added and extracted by EtOAc (20 mL×2). The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated to give the desired 4-(1H-tetrazol-1-yl)benzenesulfonamide, sulfonamide 9-1, (80 mg, 71%) as a yellow solid.

Method 10

To a solution of 4-fluorobenzenesulfonamide (175 mg, 1 mmol) and 1H-1,2,4-triazole/1H-1,2,3-triazole (140 mg, 2 mmol) in DMSO (10 mL) was added t-BuONa (200 mg, 2 mmol) under nitrogen. The mixture was stirred at 100° C. for 48 hours. Then water (100 mL) was added and extracted by EtOAc (20 mL×2). The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified by flash silica chromatography, elution gradient 20 to 40% EtOAc in petroleum ether. Pure fractions were evaporated to dryness to afford Sulfonamide 10-1, 4-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)benzenesulfonamide, (95 mg, Y=42%) as a yellow solid. HPLC tR=0.482 min. or Sulfonamide 10-2, 4-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)benzenesulfonamide, Y=49%, HPLC tR=0.492 min.

Method 11

Step 11-1. Synthesis of M11-1

A mixture of 4-bromo-N,N-bis(4-methoxybenzyl)benzenesulfonamide (compound M1-1; 200 mg, 0.42 mmol), 1H-imidazole (86 mg, 1.26 mmol), CuI (96 mg, 0.51 mmol), t-BuONa (121 mg, 1.26 mmol), and 1,10-phenanthroline (91 mg, 0.50 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (4 mL) was stirred at 120° C. for 16 hours under N₂. The reaction mixture was concentrated and purified by flash silica chromatography, elution gradient 0 to 10% MeOH in DCM. Pure fractions were evaporated to dryness to afford the desired sulphonamide 11-1, (120 mg, Y=61.5%) as a yellow solid. m/z (ES⁺) [M+H]⁺=464.10; HPLC tR=0.780 min.

Step 11-2. Synthesis of Sulfonamide 11-1

4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-N,N-bis(4-methoxybenzyl)benzenesulfonamide (compound M11-1; 120 mg, 0.26 mmol) was dissolved in TFA (2 mL). The resulting solution was stirred at 40° C. for 2 hours. The reaction mixture was concentrated, water (100 mL) was added, then adjusted pH 8 with sat. NaHCO₃ and extracted with EtOAc (20 mL×2). The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and evaporated to give the desired sulphonamide 11-1 (50 mg, Y=86%) as a yellow solid which was used in the next step without further purification. m/z (ES⁺) [M+H]⁺=223.90; HPLC tR=0.187 min.

Method 12

Step 12-1. Synthesis of M12-1

A solution of 2-phenyloxazole (200 mg, 1.4 mmol) in sulfurochloridic acid (5 mL) was stirred for 15 hours at 100° C. under N₂. The resulting mixture was poured into ice-water (50 mL) and extracted by EtOAc (20 mL×2). The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated to give the crude compound M12-1 (180 mg, 52%) as a yellow oil.

Step 12-2. Synthesis of Sulfonamide 12-1

To a solution of the 4-(oxazol-2-yl)benzene-1-sulfonyl chloride (compound M12-1; 121 mg, 0.5 mmol) in CH₃CN (5 mL) was added ammonium hydroxide (2 mL) at 0° C. The mixture was stirred at RT for 30 min. Then water (20 mL) was added and extracted by EtOAc (20 mL×2). The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated to give the desired sulfonamide 12-1, 3-(Oxazol-2-yl)benzenesulfonamide (98 mg, 87%) as a yellow solid.

Method 13

6-Chloropyridine-3-sulfonamide (200 mg, 1.04 mmol) was added to a mixture of 1H-1,2,4-triazole (72 mg, 1.04 mmol) and K₂CO₃ (287 mg, 2.08 mmol) in DMSO (2 mL) at 100° C. Then was stirred for 16 hours at 100° C. The reaction mixture was diluted with EtOAc (20 mL) after cooling to rt, then washed with saturated NaCl (10 mL*2). The organic phase was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified by flash silica chromatography, elution gradient 0 to 10% MeOH in DCM. Pure fractions were evaporated to dryness to afford the desired sulphonamide 13-1, 6-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)pyridine-3-sulfonamide (70 mg, Y=61.5%) as a yellow solid. m/z (ES⁺) [M+H]⁺=225.85; HPLC tR=0.417 min.

The following sulfonamides were synthesized employing the general procedure of method 13.

Sulfonamide 13-2

Sulfonamide 13-3

Sulfonamide 13-4

Method 14

Into a 10 mL microwave tube maintained with nitrogen was placed 2-(tributylstannyl)oxazole (compound M14-1; 358 mg, 1 mmol), 6-chloropyridine-3-sulfonamide (compound M4-1; 174 mg, 0.9 mmol), Cu₂O (143 mg, 1 mmol), Pd(PPh₃)₄ (115.5 mg, 0.1 mmol), and dioxane (5 mL). The resulting mixture was stirred at microwave heating 100° C. for 4 hours. After being cooled to rt, the solution was concentrated and the residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate (20 mL), then was washed with water (10 mL*2), saturated NaCl (10 mL*2). The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash silica chromatography, elution gradient 0 to 10% MeOH in DCM to give the desired sulfonamide 14-1, 6-(Oxazol-2-yl)pyridine-3-sulfonamide as a yellow solid (60 mg, 26.7%). m/z (ES⁺) [M+H]⁺=225.80.

Method 15

Step 15-1. Synthesis of M15-1

A mixture of 2-(tributylstannyl)oxazole (310 mg, 0.867 mmol) 4-bromo-N,N-bis(4-methoxybenzyl) benzenesulfonamide (282 mg, 0.788 mmol), Cu₂O (75 mg, 0.525 mmol), and Pd(PPh₃)₄ (61 mg, 0.053 mmol) in dioxane (10 mL) was heated to 100° C. for 1 h under N₂. The mixture was cooled to rt and concentrated under vacuum. The residue was purified by silica gel column with PE/EA=3/1 to give 200 mg (Y=82%) of N,N-bis(4-methoxybenzyl)-4-(oxazol-2-yl)benzenesulfonamide as a white solid. m/z (ES⁺) [M+H]⁺=465.20.

Step 15-2. Synthesis of Sulfonamide 15-1

A mixture of N,N-bis(4-methoxybenzyl)-4-(oxazol-2-yl)benzenesulfonamide (200 mg, 0.43 mmol) in TFA (5 mL) was stirred at 40° C. for 3 h and then concentrated. The residue was dissolved in EtOAc (10 mL), washed sequentially with sat.NaHCO₃ (10 mL*1) and brine (10 mL*1), the organic phase was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated to give 90 mg (y=93%) of sulfonamide 15-1, 4-(oxazol-2-yl)benzenesulfonamide as a yellow solid which was used in the next step without further purification. m/z (ES⁺) [M+H]⁺=224.90.

Method 16

t-BuOK (176 mg, 1.57 mmol) was added to M4-1 (200 mg, 1.04 mmol), and pyrazole (142 mg, 2.08 mmol) in DMSO (5 mL). The mixture was heated in a microwave apparatus at 120° C. for 120 minutes. The mixture was diluted with water (20 mL), and adjusted to pH 7 with 1N HCl. The mixture was extracted with EtOAc (30 mL*3). The combined organic layers was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by Flash-Prep-HPLC: Column, C18; mobile phase, MeCN/H₂O=0/100 increasing to MeCN/H₂O=25/75 within 30 min; Detector, UV 254 nm to give PH-ETA-C-332-1 (150 mg, 42.7%) as a yellow solid, Sulfonamide 16-1. m/z (ES⁺) [M+H]⁺=224.80; HPLC tR=0.395 min.

EXAMPLES

The compounds and processes of the present invention will be better understood in connection with the following examples, which are intended as an illustration only and not limiting of the scope of the invention. Various changes and modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and such changes and modifications including, without limitation, those relating to the chemical structures, substituents, derivatives, formulations and/or methods of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Example 1

Step 1-1

MEMCl was added to a stirred solution of (1-1) (4.35 g, 10.0 mmol) and DIPEA (10.3 mL, 30 mmol) in DCM (100 mL) at 0° C. under N₂. The resulting reaction mixture was allowed to warm up to RT and stirred overnight, then quenched with water (50 mL) and 1 N HCl (50 mL). The organic layer was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated to give 6.5 g of crude product (1-2), which was used directly for next step. LC-MS observed 2M+NH₄=1062.83 (Calcd. 1062.81).

Step 1-2

The above mentioned crude product (1-2) (4.18 g, 8.0 mmol) was first dissolved in THF (30 mL) at 0° C. under N₂, dry MeOH (1.28 ml, 32 mmol) was added, followed by slow addition of LiBH₄ (697 mg, 32 mmol). The mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 6 h, TLC and LC-MS analysis showed partial conversion of the starting material, more LiBH₄ (348 mg, 16 mmol) was then added. The mixture was allowed to warm up to RT and stirred overnight, quenched with 1 M aq. NaOH (20 mL), and extracted with ethyl acetate. The combined organic layers were washed with brine and concentrated. The residue was purified by chromatography on silica gel using hexane/acetone (100/0 to 60/40, 10 min) to afford alcohol product (1-3) (3.2 g, 94% yield based on 86% conversion) as a white foam.

LC-MS observed 2M+NH₄=1006.83 (Calcd. 1006.83).

Step 1-3

To a stirred solution of alcohol (1-3) (99 mg, 0.2 mmol) and DIPEA (35 μL, 0.2 mmol) in THF (3 mL) at RT was added dropwise p-toluenesulfonyl isocanate (31 μL, 0.2 mmol). The resulting mixture was stirred at RT for 30 min, then quenched with brine (10 mL), and extracted with ethyl acetate (40 mL). The organic layer was washed with brine and concentrated. The residue was purified by chromatography on silica gel using hexane/acetone (100/0 to 60/40, 10 min) to give the sulfonyl carbamate (1-4) as a colorless oil (69 mg, 50%). LC-MS observed M−1=690.33 (Calcd. 690.41).

Step 1-4

Carbamate (1-4) (69 mg, 0.1 mmol) was first dissolved in THF (2 mL) at RT. 37% HCl (0.1 mL, 1.2 mmol) was then added. The mixture was stirred at RT for 2 h, quenched with sat. NaHCO₃, and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with brine and concentrated. The residue was purified by chromatography on silica gel using hexane/acetone (100/0 to 60/40, 10 min) to provide the desired carbamate example 1 (30 mg, 50%) as a white solid after lyophilization overnight from MeCN/H₂O (1/1, 2 mL). LC-MS observed M−1=602.29 (Calcd. 602.33).

Example 2

Step 2-1

A solution of alcohol (1-3) (99 mg, 0.2 mmol) and CDI (65 mg, 0.4 mmol) in MeCN/THF (1/1, 1 mL) was stirred at RT for 1.5 h, cyclohexanesulfonamide (98 mg, 0.6 mmol) and DBU (89 μL, 0.6 mmol) were then added. The resulting reaction mixture was stirred at RT for 1 h, then quenched with brine, and extracted with ethyl acetate. The combined organic layers were washed with brine and concentrated. The residue was purified by chromatography on silica gel using hexane/acetone (100/0 to 60/40, 10 min) to afford the sulfonyl carbamate (2-1) (100 mg, 73%) as a colorless oil.

LC-MS observed M−1=682.36 (Calcd. 682.44).

Step 2-2

Carbamate (2-1) (100 mg, 0.15 mmol) was first dissolved in THF (3 mL) at RT. 37% HCl (0.1 mL, 1.2 mmol) was then added. The mixture was stirred at RT for 1 h, quenched with sat. NaHCO₃, and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with brine and concentrated. The residue was purified by chromatography on silica gel using hexane/acetone (100/0 to 60/40, 10 min) to provide the desired carbamate example 2 (45 mg, 45%) as a white solid after lyophilization overnight from MeCN/H₂O (1/1, 2 mL). LC-MS observed M−1=594.31 (Calcd. 594.39).

Example 3

Step 3-1

A solution of alcohol (1-3) (99 mg, 0.2 mmol) and CDI (65 mg, 0.4 mmol) in MeCN/THF (1/1, 1 mL) was stirred at RT for 1.5 h, 4-tert-butylaniline (90 mg, 0.6 mmol) and DBU (89 μL, 0.6 mmol) were then added. The resulting reaction mixture was stirred at RT for 18 h, then quenched with brine, and extracted with ethyl acetate. The combined organic layers were washed with brine and concentrated. The residue was purified by chromatography on silica gel using hexane/acetone (100/0 to 60/20, 10 min) to afford the carbamate (3-1) (87 mg, 65%) as a colorless oil.

LC-MS observed M+NH₄=687.64 (Calcd. 687.53).

Step 3-2

Carbamate (3-1) (87 mg, 0.13 mmol) was first dissolved in THF (3 mL) at RT. 37% HCl (0.1 mL, 1.2 mmol) was then added. The mixture was stirred at RT for 1 h, quenched with sat. NaHCO₃, and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with brine and concentrated. The residue was purified by chromatography on silica gel using hexane/acetone (100/0 to 60/30, 10 min) to provide the desired carbamate example 3 (65 mg, 87%) as a white solid after lyophilization overnight from MeCN/H₂O (1/1, 2 mL). LC-MS observed M+NH₄=599.48 (Calcd. 599.47).

Example 4

HCl (10 mL, 37%) was added into compound 4-1 (15.0 g) in MeOH (100 mL) at 0° C. The solution was stirred at RT for 1 h. The solution was evaporated to dryness, then the residue was diluted with EtOAc (200 mL), washed sequentially with sat. NaHCO₃ (30 mL×2) and sat. NaCl (30 mL×1). The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered, and evaporated to give compound 4-2 (15.6 g, 95.7%) as a white solid which was used directly in the next step.

Step 4-2:

TBSCl (10.9 g, 72 mmol) was added to compound 4-2 (15.6 g, 36 mmol), TEA (10.9 g, 108 mmol), and DMAP (0.22 g, 1.8 mmol) in DMF (50 mL) at 0° C. The mixture was stirred at RT for 3 h. 200 mL water was added to the mixture and extracted with EtOAc (100 mL×3). The combined organic phase was washed with sat. NaCl (100 mL×3), then dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered, and evaporated. The residue was purified by silica gel (20 to 40% EtOAc in petroleum ether) to give compound 4-3 (15.8 g, 82%) as a yellow solid.

Step 4-3:

NaHMDS (2.0 M in THF, 30 mL, 60.54 mmol) was added dropwise to compound 4-3 (15.8 g, 28.83 mmol) in THF (100 mL) at −78° C. over 1 h. The mixture was stirred at −78° C. over 1.5 h, then PhSeBr (8.16 g, 34.6 mmol) in THF (40 mL) was added dropwise to the reaction mixture. The mixture was stirred at −78° C. over 2.5 h and at rt 30 min. Sat. NH₄Cl (30 mL) was added at 0° C., extracted with EtOAc (100 mL×2), the combined organic phase was washed with sat. NaCl (30 mL×1), dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered. The solution in EtOAc was treated with 30% H₂O₂ (10 mL) at 0° C., then the solution was stirred at rt over 40 min. The solution was washed sequentially with sat. NaHCO₃ (30 mL), and sat. NaCl (30 mL). The organic phase was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified by silica gel (10 to 20% EtOAc in petroleum ether) to give compound 4-4 (10.6 g, 67.9%) as a yellow oil.

Step 4-4:

DIBALH (1.0 M in PhMe, 85 mL, 85 mmol) was added dropwise to compound 4-4 (10.6 g, 19.4 mmol) in DCM (100 mL) at −78° C. over 1 h. The solution was warmed to 0° C. over 30 min, then MeOH (100 mL) was added to quench the reaction. Rochelle's salt (aq, 100 mL) was added to the cloudy mixture, and the reaction was vigorously stirred for 12 h. The mixture was extracted with EtOAc (100 mL×3), washed sequentially with water and brine (100 mL×3), dried, filtered. The residue was purified by silica gel (20 to 40% EtOAc in petroleum ether) to give compound 4-5 (7.5 g, 74.6%) as a white solid.

Step 4-5:

NaIO₄ (13.5 g, 59.37 mmol) was added to compound 4-5 (7.5 g, 14.48 mmol) and RuCl₃ (0.155 g, 0.72 mmol) in CCl₄ (30 mL), MeCN (30 mL) and H₂O (50 mL) at 0° C. The mixture was stirred at RT for 3 h. The mixture was quenched with water, extracted with EtOAc (100 mL), washed with water and brine (100 mL×3), dried, filtered to give the compound 4-6 (6.6 g, crude) as a black solid and used directly in the next step.

Step 4-6:

LiAlH₄ (1.48 g, 39 mmol) was added to compound 4-6 (6.6 g, 13 mmol) in THF (60 mL) at 0° C. The resulting mixture was stirred at RT for 3 h. The mixture was quenched with water at 0° C., extracted with EA (100 mL×3), the combined organic phase was washed with brine (100 mL*3), dried, filtered. The residue was purified by silica gel (50 to 100% EtOAc in petroleum ether) to give the compound 4-7 (3.5 g, 49.3% of 2 steps) as a white solid.

Step 4-7:

CDI (0.95 g, 5.9 mmol) was added to alcohol 4-7 (2.40 g, 4.9 mmol), and DIEA (0.95 g, 7.3 mmol) in DCM (30 mL), the mixture was stirred at rt for 2 hours. The residue was evaporated and diluted with EtOAc (50 mL), washed sequentially with saturated NaHCO₃ (20 mL×2), and water (20 mL×1). Then the organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified by silica gel column (0 to 50% EtOAc in petroleum ether) to give compound 4-8 (2.40 g, 84.0%) as a white solid.

Step 4-8:

Compound 4-8 (100 mg, 0.17 mmol) was added to p-^(t)BuPhSO₂NH₂ (0.26 mmol), and K₂CO₃ (70.5 mg, 0.51 mmol) in DMF (2 mL) at rt, then the mixture was stirred at 50˜80° C. for 4 hours. Water (10 mL) was added after cooling to rt, extracted by EtOAc (10 mL×2), dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and evaporated. The residue was dissolved in MeOH (2 mL), Then 1 drop of 37% HCl was added. The mixture was stirred at rt for 10 minutes, then was diluted with EtOAc (50 mL) and washed sequentially with saturated NaHCO₃ (10 mL×2) and brine (10 mL×1). The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by Flash-Prep-HPLC ((IntelFlash-1): Column, C18; mobile phase, MeCN/H₂O, Detector, UV 254) to give the example 4, ESIMS m/z=616.40 [M+H]⁺.

The below examples 5-44 and examples 44a-44p in table 4 were prepared by following procedures similar to that described in Example 4.

TABLE 4 MS data Example # Structure [M − 1]⁻  5

574.15  6

644.00  7

527.15  8

566.20  9

643.20 10

642.10 11

642.20 12

610.15 13

553.15 14

[M + H]⁺ 646.20 15

[M + H]⁺ 648.35 16

627.10 17

615.15 18

657.45 19

645.15 20

671.15 21

679.10 22

657.15 23

611.10 24

611.10 25

698.10 26

726.40 27

710.00 28

654.10 29

632.15 30

632.45 31

652.15 32

636.10 33

720.05 34

692.20 35

637.15 36

638.10 37

626.10 38

576.10 39

576.10 40

629.15 41

643.15 42

671.15 43

[M + NH₄]⁺ 679.10 44

610.10 44-a

655.15 44-b

630.10 44-c

616.10 44-d

629.45 44-e

628.10 44-f

627.10 44-g

627.10 44-h

626.10 44-i

627.10 44-j

622.10 44-k

590.10 44-1

628.10 44-m

627.10 44-n

628.15 44-o

628.10 44-p

627.10

Example 45

Step 45-1:

LiAH₄ (2.6 g, 0.067 mol) was added to compound 45-1 (7 g, 0.014 mol) in THF (150 mL) at 0° C. under N₂, the resulting mixture was stirred at RT for 1 hour. Then 300 mL water was added at 0° C., extracted with EtOAc (100 mL×3), the combined organic phase was dried with Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated, the residue was purified by silica gel (20 to 40% EtOAc in petroleum ether) to give target compound 45-2 (5.4 g, 79.3%) as a white solid.

Step 45-2:

CDI (2.03 g, 12.2 mmol) was added to compound 45-2 (5.3 g, 10.5 mmol), and DIEA (2.03 g, 15.7 mmol) in DCM (30 mL), the mixture was stirred at rt for 2 hours. The residue was evaporated and diluted with EtOAc (50 mL), washed sequentially with saturated NaHCO₃ (20 mL×2), and water (20 mL×1). Then the organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified by silica gel column (0 to 50% EtOAc in petroleum ether) to give compound 45-3 (4.6 g, 73.2%) as a white solid.

Step 45-3:

Compound 45-3 (100 mg, 0.17 mmol) was added to p-^(t)BuPhSO₂NH₂ (0.25 mmol), and K₂CO₃ (70.5 mg, 0.51 mmol) in DMF (2 mL) at rt, then the mixture was stirred at 50˜80° C. for 4 hours. Water (10 mL) was added after cooling to rt, extracted by EtOAc (10 mL×2), dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and evaporated. The residue was dissolved in MeOH (2 mL), Then 1 drop of 37% HCl was added. The mixture was stirred at rt for 10 minutes, then was diluted with EtOAc (50 mL) and washed sequentially with saturated NaHCO₃ (10 mL×2) and brine (10 mL×1). The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by Flash-Prep-HPLC ((IntelFlash-1): Column, C18; mobile phase, MeCN/H₂O, Detector, UV 254 nm) to give the target example 45, ESIMS m/z=596.60 [M+1−2H₂O]⁺.

The below examples 46-104 and examples 104a-104k in table 5 were prepared by following procedures similar to that described in Example 45.

TABLE 5 MS data Example # Structure [M − 1]⁻  46

[M + 1 − 2H₂O]⁺, 558.25  47

566.35  48

[M + 1 − 2H₂O]⁺, 520.30  49

[M + 1 − 2H₂O]⁺, 518.40  50

[M + 1 − 2H₂O]⁺, 507.30  51

[M + 1 − 2H₂O]⁺, 533.30  52

604.35  53

658.35  54

630.40  55

674.60  56

588.35  57

554.35  58

648.40  59

583.35  60

[M + 1 − 2H₂O]⁺, 540.30  61

[M + 1 − 2H₂O]⁺, 574.45  62

[M + 1 − 2H₂O]⁺, 602.50  63

[M + 1 − 2H₂O]⁺, 624.50  64

[M + 1 − 2₂O]⁺, 622.50  65

[M + 1 − 2H₂O]⁺, 574.45  66

[M + 1 − 2H₂O]⁺, 558.50  67

614.35  68

650.35  69

581.50  70

646.55  71

592.10  72

575.15  73

575.15  74

538.15  75

540.15  76

608.10  77

658.60  78

642.60  79

642.60  80

642.60  81

624.10  82

578.15  83

556.15  84

604.10  85

630.20  86

604.15  87

634.10  88

624.15  89

628.20  90

632.10  91

636.10  92

584.15  93

618.10  94

622.15  95

575.15  96

568.25  97

512.15  98

526.55  99

576.10 100

632.15 101

672.10 102

610.15 103

568.25 104

606.15 104-a

[M − 2H2O + 1]⁺, 546.60 104-b

588.30 104-c

581.10 104-d

576.15 104-e

552.15 104-f

630.10 104-g

581.20 104-h

710.00 104-i

552.15 104-j

589.15 104-k

676.05

Example 105

Step 105-1:

TfOMe (164 mg, 1.00 mmol) was added to intermediate 45-3 (400 mg, 0.67 mmol) in Et₂O (2 mL) at 0° C., then the mixture was stirred at rt for 1 hour. The mixture was filtered and compound 105-2 was obtained as a white solid (430 mg, 84.4%).

Step 105-2:

NaH (30 mg, 0.5 mmol, 60%) was added to thiazole-2-sulfonamide (0.32 mmol) in THF at 0° C. and stirred at 0° C. for 1 hour. Then compound 105-3 (190 mg, 0.25 mmol) was added to the mixture above at 0° C. and stirred at r.t. for 1 hour. The mixture was quenched with saturated NH₄Cl (10 mL), extracted with EtOAc (20 mL×2), dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and evaporated. The residue was dissolved in MeOH (2 mL), Then 1 drop of 37% HCl was added. The mixture was stirred at rt for 10 minutes, then was diluted with EtOAc (50 mL) and washed sequentially with saturated NaHCO₃ (10 mL×2) and brine (10 mL×1). The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by Flash-Prep-HPLC ((IntelFlash-1): Column, C18; mobile phase, MeCN/H₂O, Detector, UV 254 nm) to give the target example 105, ESIMS m/z=581.10 [M−1]⁻.

The below examples 106-109 in Table 6 were prepared by following procedures similar to that described in Example 105.

TABLE 6 MS data Example # Structure [M − 1]⁻ 106

576.15 107

552.15 108

566.10 109

[M + NH₄]⁺, 662.38

Example 110

To a solution of 109 (30 mg) in MeOH (2 mL) was added Pd—C (3 mg, 10%) under Nz. The suspension was degassed under vacuum and purged with Hz several times. The mixture was stirred under Hz balloon at rt for 1 hour. Then filtered, the filtrate was evaporated to dryness to afford 110 (23 mg, 91.9%) as a white solid, ESIMS m/z=553.10 [M−1]⁻.

Example 111

Step 111-1:

To a solution of compound 4-1 (6.5 g, 15.5 mmol) in MeOH (130 mL) was added sulfuric acid (98%, 0.13 mL). The solution was stirred at 23° C. for 24 h, and concentrated by vacuum. Purification of the residue on silica gel (105 g) with 0-30% acetone in hexane provided compound 111-2 (6.6 g, 98% yield).

Step 111-2:

To a solution of compound 111-2 (6.39 g, 14.7 mmol) in DMF (30 mL) was added imidazole (2.20 g, 32.3 mmol) and TBSCl (2.33 g, 15.5 mmol). The mixture was stirred at 23° C. for 20 h, quenched with pH 7 buffer, and extracted with MTBE. The organic layer was washed with sat. NaCl solution, dried over Na₂SO₄, and concentrated by vacuum. Purification of the residue on silica gel (105 g) with 0-50% EtOAc/hexane provided compound 111-3 (7.59 g, 94% yield).

Step 111-3:

To a solution of 111-3 (7.59 g, 13.85 mmol) in THF was added LiBH₄ (2.0 M in THF, 41.6 mmol, 20.8 mL) and anhydrous MeOH (1.7 mL, 41.6 mmol) dropwise. The mixture was stirred at 23° C. for 15 h, slowly quenched with water (100 mL), and extracted with EtOAc. The aqueous layer was acidified with 1 M HCl to pH 5 and extracted with EtOAc (2×). The organic layers were combined, washed with 1 M HCl solution, sat. NaCl, dried over Na₂SO₄, and concentrated by vacuum. Purification of the residue on silica gel (105 g) with 0-30% EtOAc/hexane provided compound 111-4 (6.5 g) in 90% yield.

Step 111-4:

CDI (0.37 g, 2.3 mmol) was added to alcohol 111-4 (1.00 g, 1.9 mmol), and DIEA (0.37 g, 2.9 mmol) in DCM (20 mL), the mixture was stirred at rt for 2 hours. The solution of intermediate 111-5 was obtained and used directly.

Step 111-5:

The mixture of p-^(t)BuPhSO₂NH₂ (0.3 mmol), DBU (92.6 mg, 0.61 mmol) in DMF (2 mL) was added to one copy of intermediate 111-5 above, the mixture was stirred at rt for overnight. Water (10 mL) was added after cooling to rt, extracted by EtOAc (10 mL×2), dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and evaporated. The residue was dissolved in MeOH (2 mL), Then 1 drop of 37% HCl was added. The mixture was stirred at rt for 10 minutes, then was diluted with EtOAc (50 mL) and washed sequentially with saturated NaHCO₃ (10 mL×2) and brine (10 mL×1). The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by Flash-Prep-HPLC ((IntelFlash-1): Column, C18; mobile phase, MeCN/H₂O, Detector, UV 254 nm) to give the target example 111 ESIMS m/z=644.40 [M−1]⁻.

The below examples 112-120 in table 7 were prepared by following procedures similar to that described in Examples 111.

TABLE 7 MS data Example # Structure [M − 1]⁻ 112

644.40 113

526.30 114

554.35 115

638.40 116

664.40 117

568.40 118

555.30 119

581.35 120

580.20

Example 209

To a solution of (R)-pyrrolidin-2-ylmethanol (51 mg, 0.501 mmol) and DBU (127 mg, 0.833 mmol) in DCM (5 mL) was added compound 45-3 (100 mg, 0.167 mmol). The resulting mixture was stirred at RT overnight. The reaction was quenched with H₂O (10 mL), and extracted with EtOAc (10 mL×3). The combined organic phase was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered, and concentrated.

The residue was dissolved in MeOH (2 mL). To the solution was added 5 μL of 37% HCl and the mixture was stirred at RT for 10 minutes, diluted with EtOAc (20 mL), and washed sequentially with saturated sodium bicarbonate (10 mL) and brine (10 mL). The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by Flash-Prep-HPLC ((IntelFlash-1): Column, C18; mobile layer, MeCN/H₂O, Detector, UV 254 nm) to give 16.6 mg of Example 209 as a white solid. [M−1]⁻, 518.20.

The below examples 121-208 and examples 210-218 in table 8 were prepared by following procedures similar to that described in Examples 209 starting from compound 4-8, 111-5 or 45-3.

TABLE 8 MS data Example # Structure [M − 1]⁻ 121

[M + NH₄]⁺ = 599.48 122

[M − 2H₂O + 1]⁺, 454.35 123

[M − 1]⁻, 474.4  124

[M − 2H₂O + 1]⁺, 504.40 125

[M − 1]⁻, 524.4  126

[M − H₂O + 1]⁺, 514.45 127

[M + HCOOH − 1]⁻, 562.41 128

[M − H₂O + 1]⁺, 460.35 129

[M − H₂O + 1]⁺, 446.50 130

[M − 2H₂O + 1]⁺, 484.55 131

[M − H₂O + 1]⁺, 486.55 132

[M − H₂O + 1]⁺, 488.55 133

[M − 1]⁻, 488.35 134

[M − 1]⁻, 502.40 135

[M − 1]⁻, 488.35 136

[M − 1]⁻, 476.35 137

[M − 1]⁻, 490.40 138

[M + HCOOH − 1]⁻, 576.55 139

[M + Na]⁺, 516.40 140

[M + Na]⁺, 532.35 141

[M + 1]⁺, 579.45 142

[M + Na]⁺, 530.40 143

[M − 2H₂O + 1]⁺, 510.55 144

[M − 2H₂O + 1]⁺, 564.60 145

[M − 2H₂O + 1]⁺, 540.60 146

[M − H₂O + 1]⁺, 486.55 147

[M − H₂O + 1]⁺, 472.55 148

[M + 1]⁺, 601.70 149

[M + Na]⁺, 516.50 150

[M + HCOOH − 1]⁻, 550.50 151

[M + 1]⁺, 549.45 152

[M + 1]⁺, 563.50 153

[M + Na]⁺, 502.35 154

[M + NH₄]⁺, 567.50 155

[M − 2H₂O + 1]⁺, 500.45 156

[M + NH₄]⁺, 539.45 157

[M − 1]⁻, 492.35 158

[M + Na]⁺, 564.35 159

[M − 2H₂O + 1]⁺, 534.35 160

[M − 2H₂O + 1]⁺, 470.55 161

[M + 1]⁺, 594.70 162

[M − H₂O + 1]⁺, 458.55 163

[M − H₂O + 1]⁺, 474.55 164

[M − 1]⁻, 478.30 165

[M − H₂O + 1]⁺, 500.50 166

[M − 2H₂O + 1]⁺, 532.60 167

[M − 2H₂O + 1]⁺, 532.55 168

[M − H₂O + 1]⁺, 516.50 169

[M − H₂O + 1]⁺, 502.60 170

[M + 1]⁺, 611.65 171

[M − H₂O + 1]⁺, 529.40 172

[M + 1]⁺, 508.40 173

[M − H₂O + 1]⁺, 540.35 174

[M − H₂O + 1]⁺, 540.40 175

[M − H₂O + 1]⁺, 486.35 176

[M + Na]⁺, 556.45 177

[M + HCOOH − 1]⁻, 548.50 178

[M + 1]⁺, 587.70 179

[M − H₂O + 1]⁺, 506.60 180

[M − H₂O + 1]⁺, 516.60 181

[M − H₂O + 1]⁺, 485.55 182

[M + Na]⁺, 556.40 183

[M − H₂O + 1]⁺, 564.35 184

[M + Na]⁺, 622.40 185

[M + Na]⁺, 556.40 186

[M + 1]⁺, 541.45 187

[M − H₂O + 1]⁺, 518.35 188

[M − 2H₂O + 1]⁺, 496.45 189

[M + NH₄]⁺, 599.55 190

[M − 2H₂O + 1]⁺, 470.45 191

[M + NH₄]⁺, 529.45 192

[M − 1]⁻, 490.35 193

[M − 2H₂O + 1]⁺, 528.50 194

[M + 1]⁺, 547.40 195

[M − H₂O + 1]⁺, 502.55 196

[M + 1]⁺, 546.40 197

[M + NH₄]⁺, 579.5  198

[M − 2H₂O + 1]⁺, 426.40 199

[M + Na]⁺, 526.40 200

[M + 1]⁺, 462.4  201

[M + 1]⁺, 490.4  202

[M − 2H₂O + 1]⁺, 498.55 203

[M − H₂O + 1]⁺, 516.55 204

[M − H₂O + 1]⁺, 516.60 205

[M − H₂O + 1]⁺, 494.40 206

[M − H₂O + 1]⁺, 502.20 207

[M + Na]⁺, 542.45 208

[M + Na]⁺, 542.30 210

[M − 1]⁻, 518.20 211

[M + Na]⁺, 542.30 212

[M + Na]⁺, 542.30 213

[M − H₂O + 1]⁺, 530.50 214

[M + Na]⁺, 528.30 215

[M + Na]⁺, 528.30 216

[M − 1]⁻, 518.15 217

[M − 1]⁻, 560.30 218

[M − 1]⁻, 562.25 ASSAYS Human FXR (NR1H4) Assay

Determination of a ligand mediated Gal4 promoter driven transactivation to quantify ligand binding mediated activation of FXR. FXR Reporter Assay kit purchased from Indigo Bioscience (Catalogue number: IB00601) to determine the potency and efficacy of compound developed by Enanta that can induce FXR activation. The principle application of this reporter assay system is to quantify functional activity of human FXR. The assay utilizes non-human mammalian cells, CHO (Chinese hamster ovary) cells engineered to express human NR1H4 protein (referred to as FXR). Reporter cells also incorporate the cDNA encoding beetle luciferase which catalyzes the substrates and yields photon emission. Luminescence intensity of the reaction is quantified using a plate-reading luminometer, Envision. Reporter Cells include the luciferase reporter gene functionally linked to an FXR responsive promoter. Thus, quantifying changes in luciferase expression in the treated reporter cells provides a sensitive surrogate measure of the changes in FXR activity. EC₅₀ and efficacy (normalize to CDCA set as 100%) is determined by XLFit. The assay is according to the manufacturer's instructions. In brief, the assay was performed in white, 96 well plates using final volume of 100 uL containing cells with different doses of compounds. Retrieve Reporter Cells from −80° C. storage. Perform a rapid thaw of the frozen cells by transferring a 10 ml volume of 37° C. cell recovery medium into the tube of frozen cells. Recap the tube of Reporter Cells and immediately place it in a 37° C. water bath for 5-10 minutes. Retrieve the tube of Reporter Cell Suspension from the water bath. Sanitize the outside surface of the tube with a 70% alcohol swab, and then transfer it into the cell culture hood. Dispense 90 μl of cell suspension into each well of the 96-well Assay Plate. Transfer the plate into 37° C. incubator, allowing the cells adherent to the bottom of the well. Dilute compounds in Dilution Plate (DP), and administrate to cells at Assay Plate (AP). DMSO content of the samples was kept at 0.2%. Cells were incubated for additional 22 hours before luciferase activities were measured. Thirty minutes before intending to quantify FXR activity, remove Detection Substrate and Detection Buffer from the refrigerator and place them in a low-light area so that they may equilibrate to room temperature. Remove the plate's lid and discard all media contents by ejecting it into an appropriate waste container. Gently tap the inverted plate onto a clean absorbent paper towel to remove residual droplets. Cells will remain tightly adhered to well bottoms. Add 100 μl of luciferase detection reagent to each well of the assay plate. Allow the assay plate to rest at room temperature for at least 5 minutes following the addition of LDR. Set the instrument (Envision) to perform a single 5 second “plate shake” prior to reading the first assay well. Read time may be 0.5 second (500 mSec) per well. EC₅₀ and Efficacy (normalize to CDCA set as 100%) is determined by XLFit.

In Vitro Human TGR5 (GPBAR1) Activity Assay

The potency and efficacy of the compounds of the invention on TGR5 receptor was evaluated using in vitro assays which carried out using the express kit from DiscoverX (CAMP HUNTER™ eXpress GPBAR1 CHO-K1 GPCR Assay; Cataloguer number: 95-0049E2CP2S)GPBAR1 (G protein-coupled bile acid receptor 1) encodes a member of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily. GPBAR1 activation following ligand binding initiates a series of second messenger cascades that result in a cellular response. Treatment of CHO cells expressing GPBAR1 with bile acids induces the production of intracellular cAMP and internalization of the receptor. The potency and efficacy of compound for GPBAR1 activation by measuring cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP or cAMP) levels in live cells using a competitive immunoassay based on Enzyme Fragment Complementation (EFC).

In brief, following seeding the cells into the white, 96 well microplate, place it in a 37° C., 5% CO₂ in a humidified incubator for 18-24 hours prior to testing. On the second day, proceed to the appropriate cAMP Hunter eXpress Protocol according to the manufacturer's instructions. Dissolve agonist compound in DMSO at the desired stock concentration, and prepare 3-fold serial dilutions of agonist compound in Cell Assay Buffer. The concentration of each dilution should be prepared at 4× of the final screening concentration (i.e. 15 μL compound+45 μL Cell Assay Buffer/cAMP Antibody Reagent). For each dilution, the final concentration of solvent should remain constant. Transfer 15 μL diluted compound the assay plate and incubate the plate for 30 minutes at 37° C. Following agonist incubation, add 60 μL of working cAMP detection reagents/cAMP Solution mixture (cAMP Lysis Buffer, Substrate Reagent 1, cAMP Solution D) to the appropriate wells. Incubate for 1 hour at room temperature (23° C.), protected from light. Add 60 μl of cAMP Solution A to the appropriate wells. Incubate for 3 hours at room temperature (23° C.), protected from light. Read samples on Envision standard luminescence plate reader. Calculate of average EC₅₀ after logarithm transformation.

To assess the FXR agonistic potency of the example compounds as well as for reference compound, potency ranges were determined in the Human FXR (NR1H4) Assay as listed below in Table 9. The efficacy was normalized to CDCA set as 100%. (A=EC₅₀<0.1 μM; B=0.1 μM<EC₅₀<1.0 μM; C=1.0 μM<EC₅₀<10 μM; D=EC₅₀>10 μM).

TABLE 9 Example EC50 (μM) Efficacy (%) CDCA D 100 6-ECDCA B 223  1 B 422  2 B 247  4 A 319  5 B 85  6 B 298  7 C 168  8 B 327  9 A 208  10 A 259  11 A 224  12 A 217  13 B 324  14 A 270  15 A 197  16 A 187  17 A 211  18 A 221  19 A 219  20 A 203  21 A 225  22 A 262  23 A 182  24 A 193  25 B 182  26 B 206  27 B 173  28 A 194  29 B 186  30 A 261  31 B 207  32 A 164  33 A 266  34 B 186  35 B 152  36 A 205  37 A 207  38 B 203  39 B 182  44-a A 182  44-b A 216  44-c A 183  44-d B 195  44-e B 204  44-f A 216  44-g A 209  44-h B 194  44-i B 210  44-j A 170  44-k A 158  44-l B 165  44-m A 206  44-n B 307  44-o B 292  44-p A 218  45 A 235  46 A 267  47 A 321  48 A 282  49 A 269  50 A 291  51 A 218  52 A 226  53 A 411  54 B 290  55 A 258  56 A 326  57 A 392  58 A 366  59 A 428  60 A 309  61 A 270  62 A 299  63 A 396  64 B 281  65 A 322  66 B 320  67 A 290  68 B 286  69 A 368  70 A 333  71 B 317  72 C 305  73 C 352  74 B 358  75 A 386  76 B 234  77 B 383  78 B 365  79 A 376  80 B 363  81 A 372  82 C 294  83 B 275  84 A 270  85 A 240  86 B 288  87 B 274  88 A 236  89 A 278  90 A 225  91 B 313  92 C 218  93 A 288  94 A 268  95 C 420  96 A 388  97 B 245  98 B 279  99 C 51 100 A 316 101 B 289 102 A 235 103 A 294 104-a A 242 104-b A 363 104-c C 34 104-d C 35 104-e B 239 104-f A 213 104-g A 289 104-h C 208 104-i A 314 104-j A 327 104-k B 180 105 C 34 106 C 35 107 B 239 108 C 309 109 C 142 110 C 28 111 B 208 112 B 123 113 C 130 114 B 345 115 B 376 116 C 294 117 B 365 118 B 367 119 C 370 120 B 485 121 C 8 122 B 204 123 A 379 124 B 225 125 B 305 126 C 187 127 B 308 128 C 138 129 B 323 130 C 256 131 B 202 132 C 205 133 A 283 134 B 267 135 B 224 136 B 185 137 B 270 138 B 297 139 B 310 140 B 246 141 B 293 142 B 247 143 B 202 144 B 229 145 C 247 146 A 223 147 A 228 148 C 37 149 C 232 150 B 303 151 B 253 152 B 276 153 B 230 154 B 138 155 B 278 156 B 193 157 C 178 158 B 240 159 B 221 160 B 142 161 B 226 162 B 277 163 B 266 164 B 191 165 C 158 166 C 30 167 B 321 168 B 302 169 B 257 170 A 283 171 B 179 172 B 201 173 B 209 174 A 228 175 B 210 176 C 368 177 B 460 178 B 196 179 B 333 180 B 390 181 A 382 182 B 419 183 A 451 184 C 213 185 B 392 186 B 373 187 B 421 188 B 459 189 C 215 190 B 410 191 C 330 192 C 186 193 C 179 194 C 170 195 A 288 196 A 299 197 C 101 198 C 139 199 C 14 200 C 7 201 B 1 202 B 393 203 B 380 204 A 310 205 C 5 206 A 174 207 B 188 208 B 205 209 A 199 210 A 156 211 A 198 212 A 479 213 A 460 214 A 194 215 A 143 216 B 478 217 A 337 218 A 356

While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A compound represented by Formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein: R_(a) is hydrogen or methyl; R_(b) is selected from the group consisting of: 1) C(O)NR₁₀R₁₁; 2) C(O)NHSO₂R₁; 3) —SO₂R₁; and 4) —C(O)R₁; R₁ is selected from the group consisting of: 1) Halogen; 2) Hydroxyl; 3) Substituted or unsubstituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl; 4) Substituted or unsubstituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl; 5) Substituted or unsubstituted —C₂-C₈ alkynyl; 6) Substituted or unsubstituted —C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl; 7) Substituted or unsubstituted aryl; 8) Substituted or unsubstituted arylalkyl; 9) Substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkyl; 10) Substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl; 11) Substituted or unsubstituted heteroarylalkyl; and 12) —NR₁₀R₁₁; R₂ is hydrogen; R_(c) is hydrogen; m is selected from 0, 1, 2 and 3; R₃ is hydrogen or hydroxyl; R₄ is hydrogen or hydroxyl; R₅ and R₆ are independently selected from hydrogen and hydroxyl protecting group; R₇ is selected from the group consisting of: Hydrogen and substituted or unsubstituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl; and R₁₀ and R₁₁ are each independently selected from hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted —C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted —C₂-C₈ alkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted —C₂-C₈ alkynyl, substituted or unsubstituted —C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, or R₁₀ and R₁₁ are taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached to form a heterocyclic ring.
 2. The compound of claim 1 represented by Formula II, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein R_(a), R_(b), R_(c), R₂, R₃, R₄, R₇ and m are as defined in claim
 1. 3. The compound of claim 1 represented by one of formulas (III-4), (III-5), (III-6), (III-10), (III-11), (III-12), (III-16), (III-17) and (III-18), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein R_(a), R_(b), R_(c), R₁, R₂, R₇ and m are as defined in claim
 1. 4. The compound of claim 1 represented by Formula IV, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein R_(a), R_(b), and m are as defined in claim
 1. 5. A compound, selected from compounds of Formula IV,

wherein R_(a), R_(b), and m are delineated for each compound in Table 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: TABLE 1 Compound m R_(a) R_(b) 1 0 Methyl H 2 0 Ethyl H 3 0 Isopropyl H 4 0 Butyl H 5 0 t-Butyl H 6 0 Propyl H 7 0 Benzyl H 8 0 Vinyl H 9 0 Allyl H 10 0 CF₃ H 11 0

H 12 0

H 13 0

H 14 0

H 15 0 Methyl Me 16 0 Ethyl Me 17 0 Isopropyl Me 18 0 t-Butyl Me 19 0 Propyl Me 20 0 Benzyl Me 21 0 Vinyl Me 22 0 Allyl Me 23 0 CF₃ Me 24 0

Me 25 0

26 0

27 0

28 0

29 0

30 0

31 0

32 0

33 0

34 1 Methyl H 35 1 Ethyl H 36 1 Isopropyl H 37 1 Butyl H 38 1 t-Butyl H 39 1 Propyl H 40 1 Benzyl H 41 1 Vinyl H 42 1 Allyl H 43 1 CF₃ H 44 1

H 45 1

H 46 1

H 47 1

H 48 1 Methyl Me 49 1 Ethyl Me 50 1 Isopropyl Me 51 1 t-Butyl Me 52 1 Propyl Me 53 1 Benzyl Me 54 1 Vinyl Me 55 1 Allyl Me 56 1 CF₃ Me 57 1

Me 58 1

Me 59 1

Me 60 1

61 1

62 1

63 1

64 1

65 1

66 1

67 2 Methyl H 68 2 Ethyl H 69 2 Isopropyl H 70 2 Butyl H 71 2 t-Butyl H 72 2 Propyl H 73 2 Benzyl H 74 2 Vinyl H 75 2 Allyl H 76 2 CF₃ H 77 2

H 78 2

H 79 2

H 80 2

H 81 2 Methyl Me 82 2 Ethyl Me 83 2 Isopropyl Me 84 2 t-Butyl Me 85 2 Propyl Me 86 2 Benzyl Me 87 2 Vinyl Me 88 2 Allyl Me 89 2 CF₃ Me 90 2

Me 91 2

Me 92 2

Me 93 2

94 2

95 2

96 2

97 2

98 2

99 2


6. The compound according to claim 1, which is selected from compounds of Formula V, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein R₁ and m are delineated for each compound in Table 2: TABLE 2 Compound m R₁ 100 0 Methyl 101 0 Ethyl 102 0 Isopropyl 103 0 Butyl 104 0 t-Butyl 105 0 Propyl 106 0 Benzyl 107 0 Vinyl 108 0 Allyl 109 0 CF₃ 110 0

111 0

112 0

113 0

114 0

115 0

116 0

117 0

118 0 NH₂ 119 0

120 0

121 0

122 0

123 0

124 0

125 0

126 0 F 127 1 Methyl 128 1 Ethyl 129 1 Isopropyl 130 1 Butyl 131 1 t-Butyl 132 1 Propyl 133 1 Benzyl 134 1 Vinyl 135 1 Allyl 136 1 CF₃ 137 1

138 1

139 1

140 1

141 1

142 1

143 1

144 1

145 1 NH₂ 146 1

147 1

148 1

149 1

150 1

151 1

152 1

153 1 F 154 2 Methyl 155 2 Ethyl 156 2 Isopropyl 157 2 Butyl 158 2 t-Butyl 159 2 Propyl 160 2 Benzyl 161 2 Vinyl 162 2 Allyl 163 2 CF₃ 164 2

165 2

166 2

167 2

168 2

169 2

170 2

171 2

172 2 NH₂ 173 2

174 2

175 2

176 2

177 2

178 2

179 2

180 2 F.


7. The compound according to claim 1, selected from compounds of Formula VI:

wherein R₁ and m for each compound are set forth in Table 3, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: TABLE 3 Compound m R₁ 181 0 Methyl 182 0 Ethyl 183 0 Isopropyl 184 0 Butyl 185 0 t-Butyl 186 0 Propyl 187 0 Benzyl 188 0 Vinyl 189 0 Allyl 190 0 CF₃ 191 0

192 0

193 0

194 0

195 0

196 0

197 0

198 0

199 0 NH₂ 200 0

201 0

202 0

203 0

204 0

205 0

206 0

207 0 F 208 1 Methyl 209 1 Ethyl 210 1 Isopropyl 211 1 Butyl 212 1 t-Butyl 213 1 Propyl 214 1 Benzyl 215 1 Vinyl 216 1 Allyl 217 1 CF₃ 218 1

219 1

220 1

221 1

222 1

223 1

224 1

225 1

226 1 NH₂ 227 1

228 1

229 1

230 1

231 1

232 1

233 1

234 1 F 235 2 Methyl 236 2 Ethyl 237 2 Isopropyl 238 2 Butyl 239 2 t-Butyl 240 2 Propyl 241 2 Benzyl 242 2 Vinyl 243 2 Allyl 244 2 CF₃ 245 2

246 2

247 2

248 2

249 2

250 2

251 2

252 2

253 2 NH₂ 254 2

255 2

256 2

257 2

258 2

259 2

260 2

261 2 F.


8. A compound selected from the compounds set forth below, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: Example # Structure 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

44-a

44-b

44-c

44-d

44-e

44-f

44-g

44-h

44-i

44-j

44-k

44-l

44-m

44-n

44-o

44-p

45

46

47

48

49

50

51

52

53

54

55

56

57

58

59

60

61

62

63

64

65

66

67

68

69

70

71

72

73

74

75

76

77

78

79

80

81

82

83

84

85

86

87

88

89

90

91

92

93

94

95

96

97

98

99

100

101

102

103

104

104-a

104-b

104-c

104-d

104-e

104-f

104-g

104-h

104-i

104-j

104-k

105

106

107

108

109

110

111

112

113

114

115

116

117

118

119

120

121

122

123

124

125

126

127

128

129

130

131

132

133

134

135

136

137

138

139

140

141

142

143

144

145

146

147

148

149

150

151

152

153

154

155

156

157

158

159

160

161

162

163

164

165

166

167

168

169

170

171

172

173

174

175

176

177

178

179

180

181

182

183

184

185

186

187

188

189

190

191

192

193

194

195

196

197

198

199

200

201

202

203

204

205

206

207

208

209

210

211

212

213

214

215

216

217

218


9. A method for ameliorating a disease or condition selected from the group consisting of primary biliary cirrhosis, cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, alcoholic liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, atherosclerosis, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and Type II diabetes, in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound according to claim
 1. 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the disease or condition is selected from the group consisting of primary biliary cirrhosis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
 11. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the disease or condition is nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
 13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the disease or condition is primary biliary cirrhosis.
 14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the disease or condition is nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
 15. The compound of claim 1, wherein R_(b) is —SO₂R₁.
 16. The compound of claim 1, represented by Formula (V),

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein m and R₁ are as defined in claim
 1. 